Looking for an Aggressive line against 1.d4

@ozzie_c_cobblepot: Yeah. I just read a thread on chesspub regarding that. But does 4.e3 transpose into the Semi-Slav or is it something else entirely?

@SemperParatus: As I mentioned in a previous post somewhere, I don't like the early move deviations that White has: i.e. 2.e4, 2.Bg5, etc.

Yes, transposes into the Semi-Slav. But I thought you wanted to avoid that?

Here's an interesting idea: How about learning something like the Queen's Indian? It's not very popular. Personally, I've spent _very_ little time studying it, and it almost never occurs in my games. People love the King's Indian, the QGD, the Nimzo-Indian.

@ozzie_c_cobblepot: I was initially against it, but with some of the advice I got earlier, I'm considering it now. It'll just take a while for me to get the hang of though.

I've been looking at the Queen's Indian for quite some time, but I never really liked it enough to try it out. It's definitely on my list of openings to try out.

Honestly though, it just sucks that I don't have enough time to give every opening a reasonable shot. If I only play every opening a few times, I could try them all, but then, I wouldn't have a good understanding of any of them. And if I want a good understanding of one of them, that'll take a long time...

How do you guys deal with this dilemma?

FWIW, 4.e3 will transpose into the semi-slav more frequently than it'll head toward anything else.  But there are other options at white's disposal.  The quietest of which, 4...Nf6 5.Nbd2, can transpose into a yawn-inducing sideline of the Colle-Zukertort.  The real danger here is that this is what Palliser recommended a few years back in his d4 repertoire book.  It wasn't the most popular book in the world, but that line sees the light of day, so the Meran/anti-Meran aren't the only things to watch for, here.

Join a thematic tournament in the opening of interest (or organize one), then spend a lot of time in the opening phase exploring the DB, in particular looking at some example GM games in each of the following categories:

• high-rated white player, lower-rated black player (relatively speaking)
• high-rated white, black
• lower-rated white player, higher-rated black player

If you have time and the inclination, look at wins, losses, draws in all the categories. What you're looking for is how the game develops. What plans do they use? What are the key squares for each piece? All of this collectively will give you a feel for the position.

The simpler positions will have very easy answers to all of these. The Albin is one example. There are only really a couple of plans for black. Each one has a certain set-up.

In fact, it's probably a good idea to start out with something simple, so I recommend studying the Albin.

All right. Thanks guys. :)

The Nimzo Indian is one of the few openings where black gets a lead in development, and therefore he has a chance to be aggressive and grab the initiative.

Usually though against a 1.d4 player playing main line theory, you can aim for eventual equality, but gaining the initiative already in the opening is really hard.

@ajedrecito: If the Hennig-Schara is playable, I guess that I could go with that as my first choice, so should the game begin 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3, I could continue 3...c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 etc. And if it goes 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3, I could play toward the Semi-Slav lines with 3...c6.

But what to do if I see 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3? I suppose I could try 2...c6 and hope for 3.c4, but if White insists on not playing 3.c4, is there a line that would give the same sort of initiative-based play? Maybe 2...c5?

@Eric_C: Maybe I ought to edit my first post. I originally didn't want anything too heavy in theory, but a couple of people managed to convince me that it wasn't so bad, so for the last page or two, I've been trying to figure out how to meet certain lines to get a Hennig-Schara, or at least a Semi-Slav.

As for the Grunfeld, I've never really looked into it, but at this point, I'd prefer to try the Hennig-Schara/Semi-Slav kind of game. Maybe next time. :)

@ajedrecito: Thanks for the post. That's exactly what I was looking for. :)

Are you willing to answer future questions I may have on the opening phase (via message) or is that too much trouble?

Well, I have another idea

d4 d6 transposes into the Pirc, which gets very tactical 

@Vyomo: But then I'd have to worry about 1.d4 d6 2.c4, when the only line I can see is the Old Indian Defense, which I don't like.

After 1.d4 d6 2.c4, the mainline is 2...e5! and the "endgame variation."  This scores incredibly well for black, and is the reason that even 1.d4 players typically go ahead and transpose to the Pirc after d6.  I suppose this could transpose into an Old Indian, but that's black's prerogative.  But still, it's probably not the kind of cut-throat game you're looking for.

You have to accept that if the opponent wants to avoid sharp play in the opening you cannot do much. Pretty much any opening has lines that lead to quiet play and others that can go wild. For example, against the Sicilian White can choose the Alapin or the Closed Sicilian. In d4, if you expect Benoni, White can play e2-e3 instead of advancing the "d" pawn.

What do you play as black against 1 e4? If we knew that it may help us give you better suggestions.

@ajedrecito: Thanks. I'll try out the lines first, and if I have questions, I'll ask you.

@MountainGorilla: Interesting line, but you're right. It's not quite the sort of game I'm looking for.

@uhohspaghettio: Unless I misread MountainGorilla's post, I don't understand where the "trolling" is. His post seemed relevant and was a suggestion. I understand if you've had problems with him in the past, but generally, I think we need to try to be respectful of others, whether they are right or wrong.

@Foxman49: Actually, I think I've gotten the suggestions I've needed. For what it's worth, I like the Schliemann Defense against the Ruy Lopez, and the Traxler Variation against the Two Knights Variation.

Go out and find it youself,

Hi, ajedricito.

Although it would be hard to verify empirically what the totals are across all of amateur chess, something like the RHP amateur games database suggests that after 1.d4 d6, 2.e4 is the most popular second move, and more popular than 2.Nf3 by approximately a factor of three.

I agree that 2.Nf3 makes more sense, if one intends to stay "in repertoire," but in amateur play, at least, it doesn't seem to play out that way.  I think this is in no small part because two highly popular repertoire books - Yrjola and Tella's "An Explosive Opening Repertoire for Black" (from the black side, obviously), and Summerscale's "A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire" (based on the Colle-Z, the Barry and the 150 attack) - both recommend it as the best way to play for advantage by white.

Master databases do show a very slight nod toward Nf3, but by and large, a roughly equal split in preference among 2.Nf3, 2.c4, and 2.e4.  I think, in sum, it's enough evidence to at least suggest he'd better be ready for a Pirc if he intends 1.d6.  And given how much of the total chess played out there is amateur, I think one can safely say amateur trends tend to be telling on the overall scheme of things.

After 2.Nf3, of course, all manner of options remain on the board for black, including KID's, Wades, and Old Indians.

Hi.

People don't like having their faults pointed out.  But on something like a message board where people come for help, a guy like uhoh, who thinks a child's understanding of statistics is the same as "help," hurts people more than he helps them with his "advice."

I called him out on this, and suspect I've made an enemy for life.  This is okay, since he doesn't seem like a guy I'd want supporting my side of any argument anyway.

Best of luck choosing an opening!