I was wondering what people thought was the best defense against 1. d4.  Obviously, it is a matter of preferance, but I would like to have a defense against it that is fairly secure and can allow me to have the possibility of taking the offensive.  Right now, I primarily play 1...e6, hoping to transition to French positions in which my theory is secure and I can play without giving much thought to the opening.  However, I would also like any comments and opinions about any systems that might be beneficial to counter d4. 

Thanks,  Zredfire

i like to play d5 in response to d4 hoping for a queens gambit game so i can get into the cambridge springs defence. i like this one as it gives you a good offensive reply to d4. its got the advantage of a trap after move 4 Bg5 Nbd7 for the unwary. if white makes a grab for your pawn you can pull off a queen sacrifice and come out a piece ahead.

d4    d5

c4    e6

Nc3  Nf6

Bg5  Nbd7  (cambridge springs)

if white gets greedy

cxd5 exd5

Nxd5 Nxd5!

Bxd8 Bb4+

Qd2 Bxd2+

Kxd2 Kxd8

and you come out a piece ahead. if they don't go for the pawn you can just carry on developing your pieces for an attack on the queens side. i really like this one, however it comes with the caveat that i'm just learning to play and white might have some answer to it that i'm unfamiliar with. but imho, worth a look. all the best, phil webb.

ps. i'd also be interested in any comments about the cambridge springs.

Just pick one and learn it. Unless you plan on playing Kramnik, they will all be equally effective.

Out of the ones I have tried, the Benoni Defense (c5) has given the best payoff.

I also like Benoni defenses, especially after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5. Lately I have been trying the Nimzo-Indian.

If you want, I can help you with one.  You should have asked me earlier.  I will recommend to you the QGD, QGA, and other systems that give you decent chances.

The problem with the benoni defense is that although it plays for imbalances, it's at the cost of the stability of black's position. In most variations Black can't fully equalize because white can eventually break in the center with f4 and e5. At least it's not drawish!

If you like the french I'd stick with, 1...e6, even if white play's 2.c4 you can still transpose into the nizmo-indian or the queens gambit declined.

Zredfire,

1. e6 is fine. It's kind of funny that you're the kind of players who wants to shift to the attack with that kind of first move, but hey, stranger things have happened.

The funny thing is, I've noticed that e6 is relevant against both 1. e4 and 1. d4. The customary responses to 1. d4, the Nimzo-Indian, the Semi-Slav, Queen's Gambit Declined, etc., all rely on e6 early in the opening, but they don't usually play it on the first move.

All the Indian defenses to 1. d4 pretty much begin with 1. Nf6, but the second move for Black is almost always e6!

The Semi-Slav begins with the mirror 1. d5 and when White pushes with 2. c4, Black defends with c6 (which makes it a Slav game), and backs it up with e6 to create a strong-point on d5.

Look up any of the above openings, they are very, very popular at the top level of chess, and they are ultra-solid.

If you want attacking chances out of the gates, the Modern Benoni (1. Nf6 2. e6 3. c5 for Black) is good, but be careful, it's a very sharp defense! 

Not true of the King's Indian or the Grunfeld. Neither of these two systems feature ... e6 in the opening.

i always play 1. ...f5 in response to 1. d4 (dutch defense). i love the dutch. the best part about it is that it always surprises your opponent :)

Or you can follow up with 2. ... f5 and play the Stonewall or Classical variations of the Dutch. That's what Paul Morphy used to do to reach a Classical Dutch.

i prefer the kings indian defence but you will need to know much theory

A good response to 1.d4 is either 1...d5, heading into classical defenses and the Queen's Gambit, or 1...Nf6, hoping for a more modern approach. The idea behind 1...Nf6 and the myriad of defenses that come after it (Nimzo-Indian, King's Indian, Queen's Indian, Grunfeld, Benoni, Benko Gambit, and others) is to develop more pieces than pawns and to stop a White expansion in the center. Often these defenses revolve around stopping the move e4; forcing White to concentrate on the queenside. If it works, it works well!

The Benoni (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6) is an attempt by Black to unbalance the position and obtain very active counterplay. The Black Bishop will have to be fianchettoed, and the d6-pawn is backward, but the resulting tactical melees with players throwing their pieces at each other can be quite fun, to say the least! I have had some crazy games with the Benoni. It's not for everyone, and it can be exceedingly complicated to master, but if you like attacks and all-or-nothing frays, then this is the defense for you.

If you prefer more solid than active play (like I usually do), then the Slav Defense (1.d4 c6 2.c4 d5) or the Queen's Gambit Declined (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6) are both very good choices.

On a sidenote: Never, ever play the Dutch Defense! There is a simple line that consistently wins against it and has shown it to be dubious at best: (This analysis is not mine, but taken from an Openings book written by a Grandmaster. This is not only my opinion, but masters' opinions as well.)

1.d4 f5 2.Bg5! 

(Black's usual plan is to clamp down on e4 by placing a knight on f6 and a pawn on e6. After this move, this plan is no longer viable. e.g. 2...Nf6?! 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 and White will play c4 and Nc3 with a sizeable advantage. Black has to chase away the White Bishop.)

2...h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.e3

(Opening up the threat of Qh5 checkmate!)

4...Nf6 5.Bg3 Bg7 6.Nd2

(White has the advantage. Black's Kingside is extended and the move h2-h4 is sure to undermine Black's position.)

You can try it out with a friend if you want, but after learning about this line, I'm never going to go near the Dutch Defense. Especially not in tournament play.

If your level of play is not too competitive, then you could have alot of fun with the Budapest Gambit.  It starts with 1. d4, Nf6 2. c4, e5.  My understanding is that this is NOT played at the master level because it is an imperfect opening, but I think that it's fun to take players  off of openings that they know and into unfamilliar territory. 

 The dutch can be played with 1 d4 e6, intending 2 c4 f5. But it won't work if you fear the french defense with 2 e4, which I don't.

Ah, sir, the game explorer says that white has only won 3 of the 7 games that this line occurs in, and black won 4. I don't believe that it's a refutation of the Dutch Defence.

Sure there are weaknesses, but weaknesses exist for both sides in ALL openings.

Personally, I stand by the Modern Defence 1. d4 g6. It has great transpositional potential and is therefore pretty flexible. Black intends to fianchetto the King's Bishop and play d6, Nd7 (rerouting to b6 later), Nf6, and c6 with a resilient setup.

The Grunfeld is a good opening, complex, but good chances for black- I also play the Kings Indian Defence, and, if I'm feeling crazy... The Albin Counter-Gambit, played- 1.d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4. If you know the opening well, it gives you a good game.