Need system to play against 1. d4

I'm rated about 1850 USCF, and am planning on playing in a tournament in a week, and am really rusty when it comes to my d4 repertoire. I have never found a good reply to d4 as black that I can play consistently and with decent success. I've bounced around between the King's Indian, Grunfeld, Nimzo-indian, benoni, etc, but just can't seem to find anything that gives black what I would call a decent position.

Any recommendations from some strong players for a good reply to d4, that you can learn fairly quickly without studying theory 20 moves deep?

Jay, I also like the Nimzo-Indian because I feel like I have real counter-chances without knowing too much theory. If Nf3 there's the Queen's Indian. I picked up the basics in a week with "The Nimzoindian Defense: The Easy Way" and "The Queen's Indian Defense: The Easy Way" DVDs by Jacob Aagard. He only goes a few moves deep with theory, and mostly focuses on ideas and master games. But do you really want to change-up your repertoire the week before a tournament??

If the tournament is next week, I think it's too late to try something completely new.  I'd go with whatever you are most familiar with.  It's the quality of your play that matters, not the opening you play.

After that I'd suggest the QGD Tarrasch.  Everyone thinks they know how to play against it, but they're usually mistaken! 

That's just the thing, I don't feel like I really KNOW anything in the d4 lines right now as it is, so changing a week before the tourney doesn't bother me, because I'm always going into uncharted territory on move 5 anyhow. :)

I like the benko gambit...but a good start on the nimzo might be something like this.

http://www.chesscentral.com/software/nimzo-indian.htm

Hehe! That's the boat I was in when I picked up those DVDs. I bought them from wholesalechess.com... free shipping and they arrived in the Bay Area within 2 business days. And before you ask, I'm not affiliated with that company.

to jay,

i do not know your style of play but the line i play personally is the tartakower variation of the queens gambit declined.(eco code d58-59).the lines are short but in my opinion give black a good game vs 1.d4.

The Chigorin Defense might be a good pick, but then again, you'll have to be ready for 3 cxd5, 3 Nc3, and 3 Nf3. Not sure if you'll want to study all of those, especially if you're not familiar with the line.

After 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3, why not play 3 ... Bb4+ and use the Bogo-Indian? Other good suggestions are the Queen's Gambit Accepted and the Dutch Defense.

One week is such a short time, I say. But if you really want to try something new in that short time, why don't you try the Albin Countergambit. It may add an element of surprise to your play, but it also come with fair level of risk.

Have you ever looked at the Tango (also known as the Two Knights Tango, Black Knights Tango, or Mexican Defense)? It starts 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6. Many players as white who have never seen it will try too hard to refute it and end up screwing themselves up. Even if they know how to play against it, it's a perfectly sound system that's been played by several GM's, including Nakamura and Benjamin.

GM Joel Benjamin wrote a 4 part article that serves as a pretty good introduction to the opening. You can find it here:

http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_shrtcts/archive.html

--Fromper
 

Very good articles. thanks. I just might give that concept a try. It's very close to the nimzo and in many cases transposes.

If white plays 3. Nf3, then 3. ... e6 with a later e5 is normal. Against 3. Nc3, black plays 3. ... e5 immediately. 

--Fromper