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I need an obscure opening vs 1.c4


  • 2 years ago · Quote · #1

    zxb995511

    As the title says I'm looking for something obscure or unsound even against 1.c4 any suggestions would be great thanks in advance.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #2

    Humness

    well there are a few:

    1...Nf6

    1...d5!

    1...e5

    of course you could alway check out games explorer

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #3

    PrawnEatsPrawn

    How about the Jaenisch Gambit?

    1. c4 b5

    I think you could expect to score plenty of wins against sub-master opposition with this off-beat opening.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #4

    rednblack

    I disagree with Humness.  I see all of those as responses to 1. c4 rather often.  You can try, 1. . .b6 preparing a queen-side fianchetto which may throw white off, as he would like to fianchetto his light-squared bishop too.  Black also can get pretty solid positioning out of this opening, though I think it falls into the "dubious" category you described above.

    You can also try the so-called Jaenisch Gambit against the English with 1. . .b5.  It definitely falls into the dubious category, but those who like it really like it.

    http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/jaenisch-gambit-against-1c42

    Hope this helps.

    Edit: 1. . .d5 (recommended by Humness) is a bit of a rarity actually and leads to some sticky positions for both players, so that may be up your alley as well. 

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #5

    zxb995511

    PrawnEatsPrawn wrote:

    How about the Jaenisch Gambit?

    1. c4 b5

    I think you could expect to score plenty of wins against sub-master opposition with this off-beat opening.


    Im intrigued- can you tell me at least the basic line??

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #6

    Fromper

    Are you preparing for a specific opponent? You might look into the Bellon Gambit (1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 b5), but it only works if white doesn't play g3 too early, so if you know your opponent, you might be able to find out if it's appropriate.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #7

    rednblack

    zxb995511 wrote:

    Im intrigued- can you tell me at least the basic line??


    http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/jaenisch-gambit-against-1c42

    It also goes by the name of the Halibut Gambit, which will yield some results in a google search.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #8

    traxlerman

    I play 1...nf6, the anglo-indian defense

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #9

    Fromper

    Or you could take up the Dutch Defense (1. d4 f5). One of the great things about it is that it works against just about anything but 1. e4, so you can play it against 1. c4, too.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #10

    Elubas

    zxb995511 wrote:
    PrawnEatsPrawn wrote:

    How about the Jaenisch Gambit?

    1. c4 b5

    I think you could expect to score plenty of wins against sub-master opposition with this off-beat opening.


    Im intrigued- can you tell me at least the basic line??


    In my opinion this is just sacrificing for the sake of sacrificing. Being able to get the b file and one tempo for a bishop on b7 is just not compensation.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #11

    rrrttt

    C6

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #12

    Archaic71

    I often play e6 against c4.  The e6, d5, c5 pawn set up is pretty playable against anything.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #13

    rrrttt

    Caro defense, either leads to a Queens Gambit Slav Defense, or Semi Slav. Sometimese leads to obscure positions.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #14

    PrawnEatsPrawn

    Elubas wrote:
    zxb995511 wrote:
    PrawnEatsPrawn wrote:

    How about the Jaenisch Gambit?

    1. c4 b5

    I think you could expect to score plenty of wins against sub-master opposition with this off-beat opening.


    Im intrigued- can you tell me at least the basic line??


    In my opinion this is just sacrificing for the sake of sacrificing. Being able to get the b file and one tempo for a bishop on b7 is just not compensation.


     

    Yup, guilty Sir!

     

     ... however, I remind you of the brief:

     

    "As the title says I'm looking for something obscure or unsound even against 1.c4 any suggestions would be great thanks in advance."

     

    Guess I've covered all the bases then, with the added advantage that in all three of the databases I looked in the Jaenisch Gambit scores fairly well. Some of us shun the safety-first approach that makes chess less interesting with every passing year. Most of us will never be world class or even titled but we can play a brand of chess that tickles our own fancy. Homogeneous chess? No thanks.

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #15

    westcoastchess

    just transpose it to whatever you play against 1.d4, and then find the obscure line a few moves deeper in that. no need to reinvent the wheel IMO,

  • 2 years ago · Quote · #16

    jonnyjupiter

    e6 and c6 can be annoying. I play the English as my main opening. Give me e5 or c5 and I'm in happy, familiar territory. Only play f5 if you're happy playing the Dutch as it is a straight transposition after 2. d4.

    e6 is probably most flexible. c6 works well if white likes to play g3. 1.Nf6 is always a strong move too (although it's not offbeat).


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