Unless this tournament is 4-6 months away, you should play what you know best, even if it isn't all that good.
I recommend the Tartakower Variation in the QGD, but I'd avoid the Caro-Kann.
Oh, and start the QGD with e6 and Nf6 before d5 to keep em guessing and avoid a few bad lines in the Exchange var (Nge2).
Yes stick to what is familiar.
I'll give some guidelines that may help:
If 1...Nf6 then 2.Nf3! delaying c4 (you will likely play c4 unless black opts for a Benoni, in which case you'd play Nc3 instead to leave c4 free for a king's knight via Nf3-Nd2-Nc4 to target weaknesses, and also the c4 pawn wouldn't get in a lightsquared bishop's way so Bb5+ or Bc4 are possible eventually), maybe even with a Catalan (g3-Bg2) thrown in is good. You'd likely transpose to a main fianchetto King's Indian (since the c4 pawn is quite valuable there), but so what? One would think you're doing move order tricks but the fact of the matter is you'd simply be playing the best moves for you, with 2.Nf3! combining flexibility with development, Nimzowitsch, Alekhine, Steinitz, Rubinstein, Capablanca, and others frequently did and do so.
Against 1.d4,d5 2.Nf3 prepare for 2...c5! which was a favorite of Tarrasch. Actually, 1.d4,d5 2.c4 is great
If 1.d4,d5 2.c4,dxc4 then 3.Nf3 followed by 4.e3. 3.e4 is gaining serious traction, seizes the center, and generates a threat against c4 but the d4 pawn is quite vulnerable, and you should expect an eventual ...c5 strike anyway. Your dark bishop is free with 3.e4 but at the same time the strategically important d4 point needs to be solid, so I think 3.e3 (with a threat against the c4 pawn) or 3.Nf3 are better. Theoretically 3.e4 may be great but in practice is much harder to play than 3.Nf3 or 3.e3, which are quite natural chess friendly.
The following line is especially worth knowing:
To survive a cramped caro kann you need a knight on f5 and play the breakthrough move c5! in the first 20 moves,
In QGD I use a strategy like this
Step 1 create isloated d pawn if you can
Step 2 Castle queenside if possible
Step 3 Attack the d pawn and avoid complications
Step 4 Precise endgame play will get you a win
How about weird opening as follows:
1.e4 e5 2.d3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nfd2 exd3 5.Bxd3 Nc6 6.Nc3 f5 7.O-O e4 8.Re1 Nf6 9.Ndxe4 fxe4 10.Nxe4 Be7
To survive a cramped caro kann you need a knight on f5 and play the breakthrough move c5! in the first 20 moves,
In QGD I use a strategy like this
Step 1 create isloated d pawn if you can
Step 2 Castle queenside if possible
Step 3 Attack the d pawn and avoid complications
Step 4 Precise endgame play will get you a win
QGD for black or white... i need it for white....
And I don't personally LOVE caro kann ... but it is the only opening that gives me a very good game.... in e4-e5... my position usually crumbles... and can you give me some idea of best variation for QGD for BLACK too ... thanks :D
Yes stick to what is familiar.
I'll give some guidelines that may help:
If 1...Nf6 then 2.Nf3! delaying c4 (you will likely play c4 unless black opts for a Benoni, in which case you'd play Nc3 instead to leave c4 free for a king's knight via Nf3-Nd2-Nc4 to target weaknesses, and also the c4 pawn wouldn't get in a lightsquared bishop's way so Bb5+ or Bc4 are possible eventually), maybe even with a Catalan (g3-Bg2) thrown in is good. You'd likely transpose to a main fianchetto King's Indian (since the c4 pawn is quite valuable there), but so what? One would think you're doing move order tricks but the fact of the matter is you'd simply be playing the best moves for you, with 2.Nf3! combining flexibility with development, Nimzowitsch, Alekhine, Steinitz, Rubinstein, Capablanca, and others frequently did and do so.
Against 1.d4,d5 2.Nf3 prepare for 2...c5! which was a favorite of Tarrasch. Actually, 1.d4,d5 2.c4 is great
If 1.d4,d5 2.c4,dxc4 then 3.Nf3 followed by 4.e3. 3.e4 is gaining serious traction, seizes the center, and generates a threat against c4 but the d4 pawn is quite vulnerable, and you should expect an eventual ...c5 strike anyway. Your dark bishop is free with 3.e4 but at the same time the strategically important d4 point needs to be solid, so I think 3.e3 (with a threat against the c4 pawn) or 3.Nf3 are better. Theoretically 3.e4 may be great but in practice is much harder to play than 3.Nf3 or 3.e3, which are quite natural chess friendly.
The following line is especially worth knowing:
I am going to play a big tournament and I want to learn some good opening lines for white for QGD and Caro cann for black. Can anyone help.
Thanks in advance :)..