I really have a problem playing Black against a "d4" opening. I need your opinion and suggestions as to how I can effectively deal with this opening.

Bonzlibir wrote:

I really have a problem playing Black against a "d4" opening. I need your opinion and suggestions as to how I can effectively deal with this opening.

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 There are many, many different ways to respond to d4.

 

A simple d5, e6 Nf6, Be7 (Queens Gambit Declined) is rock solid. There are plenty of very aggressive and counterattacking options such as the Benoni so you can pick an opening that suits your style. Why are you having such difficulty?

Hi there, Richard. Thanks for your insight. Well, maybe I was too focused with "e4" since I learned the game.

Go to a database and check out the indian defences. That should be a good starting place.

Thanks indeed. I use the King's Indian but I often found my position awkward. Referring to  a database is a good idea, although I'm not that familiar with such database. Can you give me a specific site please?

Bonzlibir, try chessgames.com. There are two ways to use a games database: 1. Fnd the "best" first move, then the "best" second move, etc.  2. Study games where a master played the opening you're interested in. Although the first approach is tempting, the second approach is much more profitable.

 

 

Here's a 15-minute overview on the Queen's Gambit Accepted, Orthodox Defense, Tarrasch Defense, and Slav Defense. That might help you decide which opening you want to study in the games database!

 

http://www.chesskids.com/level3/cl9l1.htm

 

Wow! that's a real treat. Thanks god, this site affords us the chance to get some valuable insights from other enthusiasts.

I usually play d4 and I always have trouble when Black whips out the Dutch or anything resembling a kingside pawnstorm. On the other hand I have no trouble with the KID.

I play the Soller Gambit (a variation of the Englund Gambit) against d4: 1. d4 e5 2. exd5 Nc6 3. Nf3 f6. It's kind of like the Blackmar Diemer Gambit for white, but with a missing tempo. Because giving up a tempo always makes dubious gambits more fun. :p

 

--Fromper 

I think the Benko/Grunfeld is good if you're after an open game. It depends on your style though. But the Benko seems to play itself with a minimum of openings knowledge

I believe that in a position where you don't know the opening or position very well you should take as much time as you can to examine the board and make the right move, as long as you follow all chess principles you should do alright or at least hold up into the middle game and hopefully make it to an end game.  After all openings are supposed to be a series of the best moves you can play right? isn't that why they call it a main line...anyway just stick to basics and everything else will come ok.

Thanks Bro!

Nf6 is my favorite reply, followed by a bishop fianchetto on g7 and castling. By that point, white has achieved a dominant level of control over the center, but the hope is that this control can be undermined from flank attacks (it's a hypermodern strategy essentially). If you want something more aggressive, try the Benoni or the Grunfeld.

d4 d5 is how i play most of the time i wing it though

No idea what your style is, but I'd recommend taking a look at the Tango. I'll be honest: I've hardly ever used it myself, but since it's not one of the more well known or theoretical openings and supposedly gives black a decent game, I thought I'd suggest it.

is there a specific site that you can find this

Find the Tango? It's also called Black Knights Tango or the Mexican Defence, and goes 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6.

What about d6?

 

Any good? I am about to try it for awhile and maybe you (any of ya, feel free!) can give me a heads up on the problems I will encounter.

 

I will write back and let ya know how I go...

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...d6 is perfectly legit.

Good sources are "An Explosive Opening Repertoire for Black" by Yrjola and Tella (rare, but findable used for not too much cash) and I think it was Nigel Davies who did a "...d6 Universal" DVD some years ago to some acclaim.

I think the main "problem" you run into is you end up playing a lot of Pircs, which are fine defenses and all, but awfully hard to play well against aggressive opponents, and against aggressive AND booked up opponents, you might as well be giving up 200 ELO points just on your choice of opening.

But that doesn't mean they aren't fun or interesting.  Just difficult to defend against a white player who knows what he's doing.

I guess you want to make sure you know the ins and outs of the Saemisch KID, too, since Kasparov's 3.f3 trick is a popular way to move order a ...d6-ist.