Hi All. I'm playing an OTB tournament on every monday. Last monday I played two rounds (Time control is 45 min. finish) and I managed to win as black, using the sicilian schveshnikov, to a 1900 player (I'm currently 1640) and then I drew as white against the ruy lopez against a 2000+ player in the second game. Next monday I will play as black the round three, and my opponent is a well know positional player. He always start his games with 1.d4. I looked all the options to play against him and still haven't found a good sharp line against it.

I'm an attacking player rather than positional. So what would you recommend as a sharp option against 1.d4?

Englund Gambit if your feeling brave!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FO2cIlD9Rs

 

 

 

Well, a good aggressive choice is the Leningrad Dutch, but you need to understand the opening a bit.  Here is an example of a Dutch line my teacher taught me.

the ablin-counter gambit is real sharp. It's almost sound, if white knows the lines he could gain an advantage, but if he doesn't you'll  get a strong attack. The  usual plan for black is to castle queen side and and push his pawns on the king side.  

1. d4 by it's nature is rather positional, so you have to find a balance between sharpness and soundness.  A lot depends on whether he plays Queen's gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4) or any of a number of openings that can spring from 2. Nf3.  I love the Englund Gambit, and some of it's relatives, but they can leave you with barely playable positions if white threads his way through the minefield...which is mostly doable with common-sense moves.

 If your opponent plays the Queen's Gambit, I would recommend the Von-Hennig Schara gambit as a good sharp alternative. 

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cd cd?! 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd1 ed 7. Qd5 Bd7 (followed generally by ...Nf6, ...Bc5, ...Qe7 and O-O-O.  Very active, sharp, and not overplayed.

 I also like the Baltic Defense, but that can devolve into a positional battle where black is slightly inferior if white knows what he's doing...but just FYI...

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 (the goal is to play an orthodox QGD with the bishop on the outside of the pawn chain, perhaps trading off white's light-square bishop [a huge part of his k-side and q-side attack plans] in the process).

If white avoids all the traps, being able to play ....c6 at most points transposes it into one Slav Defense variation or another...but examples of the traps:

3. cd Bxb1 4. Rxb1 Qxd5 5. a3 Nc6 6. Nf3 O-O-O 7. e3 e5!

3. Nc3 e6 4. Qb3 Nc6 threatening Nxd4 and Nb4

3. Nc3 e6. 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. e3 Nb4

3. Qb3 e5!? 4. Qxb7 Nd7 5. Qxd5 Ngf6 is plenty of fun

And of course, silliness like

3. cd Bxb1 4. Qa4+ c6 5. dc Bc2?! 6. cb+ Ba4 7. ba/Q Qb6 (threatening ...Bc6) 8. Bf4? e5 9. Bxe5 Bb4 checkmate...u get the idea.

Hope that helps

Thanks guys, I will look into these variations.

Play the KID or Benoni.  Tal lived and died by these and he was a brilliant attacker if there ever was one.  Kasparov and Fishcer both employed the KID to consistent success.  The lines are relatively intuitive and favor strong attackers.

The benoni is the bread and butter of tactical openings read into it a bit so you don't get yourself into too much trouble best of luck to ya!

pvmike wrote: the ablin-counter gambit is real sharp. It's almost sound, if white knows the lines he could gain an advantage, but if he doesn't you'll  get a strong attack. The  usual plan for black is to castle queen side and and push his pawns on the king side.  

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 I don't know the main line, but 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. e3 seems playable to me.

Real sharp would be the Hennig-Scharra Gambit in the Tarrasch defense, next would probably be the Benoni.  You might also look into the Benko gambit.  If your opponent is  a regular d4 player he should have a standard line against the KID and might be less likely to be prepared for the others.   Having said that the KID makes a good lifelong defense.  If you really want a close relative to the KID with active piece play look into the Grunfeld.

Actually his favorite line against the KID is the Saemisch and I'm not good against it. So I'll go for the benoni.

Kingfisher, 5.Nxd4? This why this open is good if you opponent doesn't know the main line he's in trouble.

budapest defence can be quite sharp

 

How about playing 1....d6. That way you give your opponent options of transposing into the pirc/modern with 2.e4... If he is a stubborn queens pawn player and plays 2.c4 play 2...g6 and see where it heads.... worst you have got is KID best, you take him into modern/pirc lines that he may not be comfortable with.

I think I'll play tne benko gambit. It's certainly agressive and black gets the lead in development if white accepts the pawns.

If it's good enough for Kasparov, then It's good enough for me.

Check this game

The benko gambit has the really obvious strategy of dumping your rooks on the open A and B files and riding them to victory.  Make sure you are fluent on the anti-Benoni 1. d4 nf6 2. c4 c5 3. nf3 as well.  It a whole new strategy and also, the Benko can be declined a number of ways and accepted several others.

loved the last one

favor stay at home don't go to the tournment good idea

My favourite line as black is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4, when black can play c5 and develop his queen to c7, b6 or a4. I also like 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e3 (or e4) 0-0 and to play c5 and destroy white's center, black must play d6 first.

Big love to the benko gambit!

 

Another one you might want to try is the Blumenfeld Gambit.