In this setting, for most players.... i.e. online below masters, I really prefer the fighting responses from black. If you can apply pressure early and play sharp you often will get an advantage. So those would be the slav, QGA, nimzo (which I'd pair with the vienna), english defense, benko, tarrasch/semi-tarrasch, triangle... if you're really feeling adventurous the budapest.
Between those.... well, I play the slav these days, but I used to play the QGA. I'll just describe my thoughts on some of these
- the nimzo is good but it's a huge opening, it requires tons of theory, this is why I'd pair it with the Vienna which is quite a sharp forcing line. Though I think the Bogo or Kangaroo are good options too. However I only really dabbled in this repertoire, it turned out to be too large.
- The QGA and Slav are two options which remain legit even up to the highest levels. Contrasting the two... I think the QGA is more solid whereas the slav is slightly less so... but the slav is more rich, and also puts more pressure on white to play precisely early on / punishes mistakes a bit harder. Which is why I've decided to go with the slav for now, players often go wrong at lower elo. But both of these are great openings.
- the english defense is a very sharp and rare line, there are many obscure moves needed to play it from both sides, it rewards prep. I prefer it over the nimzo, it's not as large of an opening and it requires more of white early. But you probably want to reach it via e6... meaning you have to play the french, and probably certain lines in the QID or dutch as well. So it kind of depends on the rest of your repertoire whether it makes sense. Of course you could also pair it with Owens but I'm not so inclined.
- tarrasch/semi-tarrasch - you get a very sharp attacking game with the tarrasch, it's just a little unstable since you have the IQP and you're on a timer, however rarely does white play it right, you'll get opportunities you just have to capitalize on them. But if you like that attacking style it's a great line. Semi-tarrasch - you can play this in a drawish fashion but you don't have to, it can also lead to IQP positions if you prefer.
- benko - gives you great initiative throughout the whole midgame. White does have certain more formulaic ways of dealing with it, but there are always modern lines which have been mixing things up lately. I think it's fantastic. Another major upside is it allows you to play the speilmann-indian against the zuckertort, which leads either to a pseudo-benko, an improved benoni-like position or CK exchange position, and an english anti-benoni... all these lines are great and mix up the zuckertort in ways few systems do.
- triangle - it allows you to avoid the exchange slav, and instead play some gambit lines. I think the noteboom is a fantastic line. The immediate e4 is the marshall gambit, sharp for both sides and you really have to know the theory... otherwise you can play a meran or stonewall dutch structure. Good line if you want something novel and exciting, but I do prefer the regular slav. Noteboom is the triangles best line but the slav gambits are just as good, and while boring I still choose the exchange slav over the stonewall or marshall.
Title