If you're a beginner trying to look for weapons against 1. d4, don't try complicated theory openings. First off I do NOT recommend the Dutch as there are many pet lines against it; you must know your lines perfectly to play this. Playing the Semi-slav is fine if you are patient and positional while the Tarrasch is a good option if you are dynamic and willing to play with an IQP. I'd partially recommend the Indian defenses. The Kings indian I don't recommend because it has bookloads of theory but the Queens indian and Nimzo indian are very playable and offer good chances. The Gruenfeld is also fine, too.
Beginner: Choosing opening line to learn against 1. d4
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The Tarrasch Defence, Queen's Indian Defence and Old Indian are solid lines against d4 that internet players don't study, thus giving you an adventage.
Chess4001 wrote:
If you're a beginner trying to look for weapons against 1. d4, don't try complicated theory openings. First off I do NOT recommend the Dutch as there are many pet lines against it; you must know your lines perfectly to play this. Playing the Semi-slav is fine if you are patient and positional while the Tarrasch is a good option if you are dynamic and willing to play with an IQP. I'd partially recommend the Indian defenses. The Kings indian I don't recommend because it has bookloads of theory but the Queens indian and Nimzo indian are very playable and offer good chances. The Gruenfeld is also fine, too.
The lines you recomend are loaded with Tons of theory. Just play openings that fit your style and stick with them.
Estragon wrote:
Save yourself a lot of time and frustration. If you don't learn to play the 1 d4 d5 positions first, you will struggle in your development.
The Dutch and King's Indian are perfectly fine defenses, but you cannot hope to truly understand what is going on, the logic behind these alternatives, until you experience the pluses and minuses of Black's side of the QGD. If you want to improve your game, you need to learn the basics first, and the more complex later.
You don't study calculus before you've learned algebra.
Definitely correct.I hope you take Estragons advice.
To Helltank, CHCL, Estragon and ori0:
I've gone with the Tarrasch and really like it. The IQP positions are really outstanding for my style of play and I have won 10 of the last 12 games with it as black. I'm going to play a dozen or so more games with it against 1.d4 and then explore some of the French variations that transpose into it.
@satxusa, glad to hear it is working for you.
Chess4001 wrote:
If you're a beginner trying to look for weapons against 1. d4, don't try complicated theory openings. First off I do NOT recommend the Dutch as there are many pet lines against it; you must know your lines perfectly to play this. Playing the Semi-slav is fine if you are patient and positional while the Tarrasch is a good option if you are dynamic and willing to play with an IQP. I'd partially recommend the Indian defenses. The Kings indian I don't recommend because it has bookloads of theory but the Queens indian and Nimzo indian are very playable and offer good chances. The Gruenfeld is also fine, too.
Semi slav might not be appropriate for begginer, in semi slav there is the reynolds attack, shabalov attack,the d5, e5 and a4 lines vs meran, opponent might also play Bg5 where you can choose moscow or go to botvinnik system
I'm happy you like it :) against 2.e3 you can even skip 2...e6 and play 2...c5 immediately, keeping open the option of developing the LSbishop outside the pawn chain!