Neo-Mongoloid Defense

The Neo-Mongoloid Defense, 2...f6, is an infrequent sideline of the Nimzowitsch Defense. The pawn prepares a later ...e5, but it takes f6 from the king's knight and loosens the e8–h5 diagonal. The engine assesses the position as clearly better for White. The most frequent reply is 3. d5, gaining space and driving the c6-knight. 3. Nf3 is the second choice, and 3. Nc3, though less common, has given White especially strong results.