I am finding a good opening against d4
Queen's gambit declined.
Simple (but can get complicated), and educational.
Not at all drawish as most could think...
Especially at your level, nothing is drawish : an opening which seem sharp can lead to dull play, and dry openings can lead to sharp play...
If you like the Budapest, I assume you prefer open positions and piece activity. You might try the Queen's Gambit Accepted -- it is relatively theory-light and intuitive, especially if you go with the Bg4 lines. Example:
I also have a liking for the Black Knight's Tango (aka Mexican Defense) because the independent lines can be quite interesting and dangerous for White. All of the transpositions make it too unpredictable and impractical for me, but fun and (probably) sound if you want to invest the time.
I like to play the Nimzo-Indian and the Queen's Indian Defence. The reason why I picked two rather than one is that Black cannot always play the Nimzo/Queen's Indian, and that if the Nimzo-Indian is averted by White, Black can instead choose to play the Queen's Indian. If White chooses to avert both with some weird uncommon line Black can choose to play a Queen's Indian set-up instead:
I have had good results with the Grunfeld (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5). It gives you good counterplay, development, and flexibility like the other Indian defenses, but it also forces white to commit to a plan early, which usually is easier to handle from a defensive standpoint. I've had good results with it thus far.
I like to play the Nimzo-Indian and the Queen's Indian Defence. The reason why I picked two rather than one is that Black cannot always play the Nimzo/Queen's Indian, and that if the Nimzo-Indian is averted by White, Black can instead choose to play the Queen's Indian. If White chooses to avert both with some weird uncommon line Black can choose to play a Queen's Indian set-up instead:
@iamunknown2 what do you play against the Catalan? It averts both (OK you can play a bad version of the Queen's Indian against it but it's not good) and there's nothing 'weird' or 'uncommon' about it
I like to play the Nimzo-Indian and the Queen's Indian Defence. The reason why I picked two rather than one is that Black cannot always play the Nimzo/Queen's Indian, and that if the Nimzo-Indian is averted by White, Black can instead choose to play the Queen's Indian. If White chooses to avert both with some weird uncommon line Black can choose to play a Queen's Indian set-up instead:
@iamunknown2 what do you play against the Catalan? It averts both (OK you can play a bad version of the Queen's Indian against it but it's not good) and there's nothing 'weird' or 'uncommon' about it
Ah yes, the Catalan. I think the best scoring move against it is c5, basically going into Benoni territory. I don't remember anyone playing it against me though.
i always play queens pawn, it is much less popular than kings pawn but the main difference is queen pawn is much slower.
KILLER DUTCH = NO DRAWS
Love playing the Stonewall, opponent thinks that I am just hunkering down, and then... BAM! HUNT WHITE'S KING DOWN
KILLER DUTCH = NO DRAWS
Love playing the Stonewall, opponent thinks that I am just hunkering down, and then... BAM! HUNT WHITE'S KING DOWN
I play 1.d4 and the Dutch Defense is the most irritating opening to face, and the Stonewall perhaps the most irritating variation of the Dutch. Nobody ever plays it against me though. The main lines are difficult to play (for both sides presumably) and none of the sidelines work as there are so many clever move orders to avoid all the Anti-Dutch lines and other sidelines.
Im using the austrian defense now
According to GM Boris Avrukh: "Probably the worst opening Black can choose after 1.d4. It has always been considered dubious, and I have not seen any serious attempts to repair and restore this line in recent years."
Of course below master level people rarely prepare for this sort of stuff though, and it can be a good practical weapon then. I have also lost games to the similarly questionable Englund Gambit. However, the Budapest Gambit is definitely better than the Austrian Defense so I don't recommend the OP to switch to that.
Im using the austrian defense now
According to GM Boris Avrukh: "Probably the worst opening Black can choose after 1.d4. It has always been considered dubious, and I have not seen any serious attempts to repair and restore this line in recent years."
Of course below master level people rarely prepare for this sort of stuff though, and it can be a good practical weapon then. I have also lost games to the similarly questionable Englund Gambit. However, the Budapest Gambit is definitely better than the Austrian Defense so I don't recommend the OP to switch to that.
Well, Boris can say whatever he wants but the engine likes it and it's a good way to get the QG players out of their confort zone.
If you like gambit-style play, try the benko: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d5 b5!
In the main lines where white accepts, there are a few very basic themes to keep in mind as black (explained nicely in Jan Pinski's 2005 book on the Benko), whereas white has to be very careful and can easily get into a worse position or miss some traps.
But unlike the Budapest, it's a gambit whose compensation is mainly positional and lasts well into the endgame. This is much nicer than having to find a nice tactic right away or just being a pawn down with no lasting compensation..
solid structures - queen gambit, maybe slav
attacking-atractive-unclear positions - kings indian, benko, benoni
grunfeld if you want something "in between"
depending what you want from your games
You can play Queen's Indian Defense.
1. .Easy to play
2. Lots of flexibility to play d5,c5, e5, f5 later to challenge the centre.
3. Top tier choices of 3500 rated latest stockfish, no doubt, extremely strong moves.
Just one main key in Queen Indian Defense, it is the opening for fighting e4 square. Dont let white play e4 easily.
