Holes In My Repertoire
Play the Kingsindian or if you want the safe choice the Nimzoindian. At your elo the kingsindian will probably bring you lots of Freelo if you know how to play it.
The KID is a bit hard to handle, fun to play and very useful for transposition ("So 1.g3 but do you want to play the English, a d4 setup, or even something else? Let's find out after my fianchetto").
Are you trying to win, or merely to draw? The above suggestions (King's Indian, Nimzo-Indian) are good when Black is striving to win, whereas defenses like the Queen's Gambit Declined, Queen's Indian Defense, and Bogo-Indian Defense are good when Black is merely trying to survive by obtaining a draw. There exist other possibilities, too: Dutch Defense is tactical and off-beat, and several defenses like the Pirc and French can transpose easily into e-pawn openings. Your choice will depend on your goal, style, and taste.
Are you trying to win, or merely to draw? The above suggestions (King's Indian, Nimzo-Indian) are good when Black is striving to win, whereas defenses like the Queen's Gambit Declined, Queen's Indian Defense, and Bogo-Indian Defense are good when Black is merely trying to survive by obtaining a draw. There exist other possibilities, too: Dutch Defense is tactical and off-beat, and several defenses like the Pirc and French can transpose easily into e-pawn openings. Your choice will depend on your goal, style, and taste.
+1
Though be always careful regarding transpositions whatever you choose
I would recommend the Chigorin Defence or Black Knights Tango, books would be The Chigorin according to Morozavich or 1... Nc6 which has a great section on it. Black Knights Tango by Richard Palliser
Talking about holes in repertoires, Grunfeld players must now that English/KID White side players can dodge the Grunfeld with the following move order:
Talking about holes in repertoires, Grunfeld players must now that English/KID White side players can dodge the Grunfeld with the following move order:
Cant they just avoid it completely with the trendy f3?
What do you mean?
I'm not at all a Grunfeld expert. I'm on the KID side.
There's the "Modern Defense" {some applicable 'lines' on "YouTube"} against, 'whites'.. d4 - Where 'black' delays the development of the 'king-knight'.. In preference to 'N-c6'.. 'd6'.. and 'B-g4'.. And, Sometimes, even creating, a 'double-fianchetto' hedge-hog formation.. With, 'black's 'kingside' knight, being 'developed' to 'e7'!
I'm having trouble finding a comfortable weapon against 1. d4 as Black, and was looking for some help/recommendations. Just some current information about myself to help as far as what would be a suitable choice for me:
My current USCF is 2020
My next major tournament (Where I would love to break 2100) is late August/early September where I'll be playing in the U2100 section
My current repertoire for White is the Trompowsky/Levitsky Attack, and the Sicilian Scheveningen for Black
I have some experience with the Benko Gambit and a6 Slav, but for whatever reason they just don't feel right to me anymore. I want an opening I can look forward to playing, as I do with my other two.
Thanks for the input! Any references/links to videos or anything like that is greatly appreciated.