The nf3 e3 counter

While I was playing atomic, I found lots of openings. One of them is nf3 e3. But I don't know which best nf3 e3 counter. Many move d5 and e6. I always move e6 because I think it can withstand the queen's attack. Additionally, if moving d5, black can lose both queen and knight. But I'm confused as to why so many people move d5 even though they risk losing some of their pieces.

So is d5 a good counter? And which one is better? d5, e6, or is there something better?

back in the day e6 was considered the best move by stockfish, but now it has shifted to e6(or rather it was always e6 but stockfished showed d5 back in the day for some unknown reason). When you play d5 you really go into a theoryfest were the one who studied the potion the most wins. White has an advantage if both players known an equal amount of theory. As for e6 the line kinda forces two responses.
1:
Nd4, c6
Nb5, cxb5
Qh5+, g6
Qb5, Nc6
Qb6, axb6
Bb5, Kf7
Bxd7
2:
Nd4, f5
Qh5+
now you can queen trade in two ways, but none the less you trade queen and atack with your knight, form there it again is a thoeryfest even more so than the previous option, only this time it's even better for white(if they know what they are doing).

stockfish: https://lichess.org/analysis/atomic#8

How about 2. e3 e6 3. Nd4 e5? I think it's a good counter too

I have a lot of trouble beating Stockfish Level 7 as black in the lines you mention, Panda. But humans are a different story--though that can also be a big challenge. And there is plenty of room for White to go wrong in the theoryfest you allude to. Yeah, playing humans is much more fun than playing Stockfish in all these lines. I really dislike the forced lines where White forces Black to accept the sac of the Q on b6. Except in one or two variations, which are quite different, and are not forced. One of those arises after 2)...,d6. It's a good refutation of 2)...,d6 , in fact.

Personally, I recommend d5. While I used to play e3, I think it's often too passive, and it will make it easier for your opponent to win. I'm currently making a study on it, but it's only like 15% done: https://lichess.org/study/blOP0ASK/EKAgdcwu

I recommend d5. However e6 is playable too, but I would recommend not playing in a passive manner, so I would not recommend responding to Nd4 with c6 because it allows Nb5, instead I would recommend responding to Nd4 with f5 (there's a trap line I would recommend you go for that I can detail if someone wants me to) or with Nh6, with the idea of Na6 after Nb5 (this isn't a sound line so I don't play it often but it's a way to play aggressively).

If you want an opinion of my friend, do the following -> 1. Nf3 f6 2. e3 d5 3. Ng5 Bg4 4. f3 fxg5. He's actually not wrong in that the pawn down can be compensated for, at least in like the 2300- range.

i recommend d5 too

usually black just has more chances after that but i think e6 is an easier line for me in fast time controls since i have more experience with that line (maybe ~1500 games or so??)

if ur trying to actually win on position i cant really find a good e6 counter line unless u just play something that ur opponent doesnt know at all since the 2 best lines are really well known

I think these counters are good too. But i don't know what the best white move after this. What are you think?

that was the old engine line lol

qh5+ is best move and after g6 both qh4 and qg5 work then black is forced to trade queens and nb5 from white follows

if nb5 happens first then black does qh4 followed by whites g3 then qc4 threat to mate on bishop

bishop takes queen and black goes nc6, followed by c3, followed by ne5

knight would get in guaranteed and whites best option would be to sacrifice the queen for the f pawn and knight to have a semi open f file with castle coming soon but black would have a bishop for the f pawn

i think f5 is actually the only counter to this other than c6 but the e6 line is just bad in general compared to d5 line

What about the second counter. Is the counter any good? And what is white's best move?

which one is the second counter?? do u mean d5??

I mean d6

I have edited this text. Previously only 3. Nd4 f5

oh ok sorry i didnt see the edit

honestly im not sure about the second line

it just seems bad for black

i havent checked an engine but from raw evaluation just by looking at the board i think nc3 is best to forced transpose to two knights where black is developing the wrong side

In the d6 line there's a tactic that arises after Nc3 c6 Ng5 fxg5, where white can play Qh5+ Qb5 Qb6 Bb5 and white is completely winning. So black can't respond with fxg5 after Ng5, and I believe the best defense at that point is to play Bg4 and then after f3 to play fxg5, losing a pawn but stopping the queen from immediately coming out.