Hey I am about to play a stronger opponent in a tournament (about 200 pts.), and I know that he usually opens up with 1.d4. I have a terrible record with black against 1.d4, I have tried the Dutch, and I often use the Budapest defense. But these two openings are not very good when I play stronger opponents.

So can anyone suggest an opening that will rapidly take us out of opening theory, or a particularly sharp opening that might catch him off-guard?

With white I play openings such as KG, kings center game (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 ... ), and the grand prix attack in the sicillian, so an opening that has kind of the same taste to it as these would be great!

All responses are greatly appreciated!

Modern Defense: 1. d4 g6 with the idea of dark-square control using the Bishop. Development is similar to in the Pirc Defense, and the theory isn't well explored. Solid. Can transpose to KID/Pirc.

Modern Benoni: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 and the Benko Gambit 3. d5 b5 can be risky but it's quite likely he's never seen them (they aren't common on Chess.com) and Black gets good piece activity.

Nimzo-Indian: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4, solid and has a great win % for Black. Not as much theory. Also likely that he hasn't seen it before on this site.

I have been dabbling with the Benko gambit a while back, so maybe I should bring it back in from the cold..

Thanks for your answer!

Play the chigorin.

Which is??

dutch and budapest are fine

The chigorin is 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6.

+1 for Chigorin defence - the idea is to attack with black pieces directly, without long complex manuovers, like granprix is (conditionally). Modern defence and Pirc could lead to long and hard defence with black pieces, Nimzo is calm and positional (mostly), so those three are not an option for your demands. The other choices are Banko gambit (maybe normal benoni and blumenfield gambit also) and main lines of KID (Mardelplata Ne8 variation preferably, if white will not go offroad of course), that fits your request too, but try to learn Chigorin more deeply first.

If you are looking for a sharp surprise weapon you could try the Albin counter gambit. It is pretty sharp and has less established theory than more mainline stuff like the KID or nimzo. The drawback is that if white is prepared against it, you need to be ready to accept that he will get a clear edge out of the opening. The modern benoni is a good choice too, I played that for a long time and still do occasionally. A lot of people aren't well prepared against it, and there isn't a ton of theory either.  

Against d4 I play the modern benoni, the benko gambit, the blunfeld gambit, alpin counter gambit, and I'm now learning the Chigorin defence. My favorites our the alpin counter gambit and the modern benoni hope this helps

as a 1.d4 player I can definitely say that my favorite opening to play against is the modern benoni, and my least favorite is the benko gambit, I've had major issues against it in every game I've played against it

against strong player i prefer slav , nimzo defence or QGD

i think the slav is very good for harder opponents.

Thanks to you all.. at the moment I am playing the Nimzo ... Once I feel comfortable with that one I will try some of the others ..

Strive for this beautiful chess position: d4 d5, c4 c6, nf3 e6, nc3 nf6, bg5 dxc4, e4 b5, e5 h6, bh4 g5, nxg5 hxg5, bxg5 nbd7, g3 bb7, bg2 qb6, exf6 0-0-0, 0-0... It is amazingly dynamic.

The reason your openings aren't working against stronger players is because they are stronger players. 

Lose in an opening that you know. Don't try to surprise your opponent and wind up surprising yourself  when your opponent knows more about  "your new opening". Do you really think 30 mins opening prep (in an opening you don't presently play ) will prepare you to destroy a player with a couple hundred rating points understanding of the game of chess. 

Once again play your usual opening.  Understand that you are "supposed" to lose more often than not against this player.  But, if you play very well then you can win. 

Not seen the modern benoni or nimzo indian??

II won't say a percent but I guarantee you any DECENT d4 player knows what these openings are and has something prepared for them. 

I've always been a bit unclear on the difference between the Benko and Blumfield gambits.  To me they look the same.  Can you tell me the difference?

benoni is definatly good the main dificulty is an early e4 so genrally i play e6 first then c5 nimzo is good but alot to learn and bogo indian for same reasons

nimzo indian is great for BLACK..