How to respond queen's pawn and queen's gambit openings ?
First, consider Nf6 instead of d5.
After c4, e6 is best. Nf6 also still good. c6 is fine, too.
Some people like to play the King's Indian Defense (KID), but
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4
has white at +0.5 and in complete control of the center.
I like to play the Queen's gambit quite a bit. ![]()
I had some luck with the Gruenfeld against 1.d4
1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 g3
3.Nc3 d5
4.cXd5 NXd5
5.e4 Nxc3
6. bXc3 Bg7 then castle your King and develop, develop, develop
I found this defense less cramping than others and also more aggressive.
After the move you give 1.d4 d5 2.c4 there are a few thing you can do that is 2...e6 Queens Gambit declined. 2...c6 the Slav defence. 2...dxc4 Queen Gambit accepted. This are the most played moves. Then you also have 2...Nc6 Chingorin defence and 2...e5!? A counter gambit. The rest is not so often played. Also on 1.d4 you can play 1...Nf6 with lots of possiblaties like Nimzo-Indian Queens Indian after 2.c4 e6 and also Kings Indian or Gunfeld Indian after 2...g6 and then there is also the London system with Bf4 - Nf3 - e3 - h3 - Nd2 - c3 etc. And you have Tomposki 2.Bg5 with the intention of Bxf6 to double black pawns and the get rid if this dark bishop and go on for example with Nf3 - e3 - Nd2 - c3 - Bd3 or Be2 .