Aggressive but sound openings for black

As black, it's pretty hard to play aggressively because you need to equalise first

At your level, i would want you to play e5 against e4 and D5 against d4

Your most aggressive, yet sound, openings for Black are:

Against e4 - Sicilian and French

Against d4 - Grunfeld, King's Indian, Modern Benoni, and e6-Dutch lines (Classical and Stonewall)

Traditional answer is to simply play the sicilian. It is famous for its counteratacking chances. However, to my humble understanding this happens only if white decides to play open sicilian or perhaps few other lines. If he backs down with something like 2 Bc4!? or 2 c4!? then the game will likely be slow and boring with neither side having any advantage or much attacking chances.

I must say however, that in bog standard Italian(ish) game after 2... e5 black's attacking chances are grossly underestimated by many players. This requires some understanding of middle game plans, but I often crush white by means of opening the f-file ( typically after ...Be6, Bxe6) and manuevers such as Qd8-e8-b6, Nf6-h5-f4, or Nc6-d7-b6-f4, and of course Rc8-f6 followed by Ra8-f8.

Kingside pawn storms are also possible, if arranged for early and allowed by slow play from the opponent.

Watch and analyse Knorr-Chigorin 1874 as an excellent, textbook example of black's attacking play in italian.

What about Leningrad Dutch Thrillerfan? Guess its not in the sound category?

I never have considered the Leningrad sound, and not simply because I don't play it. I have legit reasons for concern given below. I hate the Grunfeld with a passion, but I do not deny it is sound, and so it is clearly not any kind of bias that I am basing this on. And I can tell you there are GMs that think the same. For example, in the introduction to one of GM Ntrilis's articles in New In Chess Yearbook within its final year or two of publication, he specifically calls out the Leningrad Dutch - I believe the article itself was on the Classical King's Indian with 7...exd4.

The biggest problem is that the king is too loose. In the Stonewall, the center is for the most part blocked, and play then occurs on the wings. In the Classical, where Black plays for e5, usually either White will bypass and play d5, closing the center, or dxe5, resulting in an open d-file, away from the Kings.

In the Leningrad, there is no hiding place for Black. The a2-g8 diagonal is open. The a1-h8 diagonal is open. The center is fluid. The most important factor, king safety, fails to exist in the Leningrad Dutch.

It is also for this reason that I find 1...e6 to be better than 1...f5 Against 1.d4 (1...f5 is fine against 1.c4 or 1.Nf3). Lines like 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.e4 (or 4.e3) again leave the Black King wide open.

The Dutch is best played via 1...e6, bit this does mean you have to be willing to play the French Defense if they play 2.e4. Otherwise, I would not suggest playing the Dutch at all if you cannot handle the French.

And actually, I beat an FM yesterday in convincing fashion in a Stonewall.

It can be found at the following URL (copy and paste if it isn't showing up as a link).

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/a-very-convincing-win-against-a-fide-master-over-three-board

Stonewall annoys me when played by white

U played really well and aggressively. Well done ! The ng3 move was lit🔥

Thanks. I could tell from his expression that he was not expecting that move. I presume he was expecting either ...b6 or ...hxg3 Qxa5 gxf2+. He also said afterward that he just flat out missed the potency of the Knight going to e2.

Thank you very much. ThrillerFan.
I also hope to hear from you about the Dutch.