Nimzo-Larsen Attack or Queen's Fianchetto Opening

Have you tried: Nimzo-Larsen Attack or Queen's Fianchetto Opening?

 1. b3

Do you like it? Pros and Cons? Is it really a usefull tool to and up in a solid middlegame vs "almost whatever" black throws at you?

I think it's a strong opening - specialy against playser who are not used to it. The fianchettoed bishop can be very suprising surporting attacks on the black king after a kings castling, it can be good attacking g7, if the kings bishop is away and finaly some players play f6 against it, leaving the diagonal h5-e8 widely open for a queens attack on h5 (specialy if it is supported with a knigth on h4, I have used this attack with great succes - it can even lead to a variation of the so called "fools mate" - see the game at the end of this post).

Anyway I think that 1. Nf3 to prevent 1... e5 is a better opening. The normal answer is 1... d5 or 1... Nc6. Then I would play b3 - often continued by Bb2, h3 (to stop Bg4) and e3 (to open up for the queen and kings bishop).

I like this opening, but it is very defensive and it leaves the centre to white - so it takes some experience with hypermodern playing to handle it (and thats sometimes a problem for me ).

 As promissed an variation of the so called "fools mate" played here on chess.com:

Interesting comments!

I am looking for an Opening that would lead to a solid middlegame without too much theory burden. 

I've played 1. b3 many times, and like it better than 1. Nf3 2. b3 since Black will get e5 in either way-- the only way around it is 1. Nf3  d6  2. d4, which is a whole different story.

1. b3 has been "interesting" so far-- some easy wins, some quick and terrible defeats, etc.-- it's a different way to start, but yo must know move orders and how to navigate when your opponent deviates and "does his own thing".  Sometimes they forget about the bishop on b2 early and blunder the rook on h8--then others take advantage of the weakness of d3 if you play c4 later in the opening to transpose to the English.

I would say Larsen's opening is complex, but good, with very little expectation of an opening advantage.  It can also transpose into other variations which is also fun if your comfortable with that kind of thing.

Jacobs and Tait's Nimzo-Larsen Attack by Everyman Chess has been a great help and covers both 1. b3 and 1. Nf3  2. b3-- very useful if you play either! 

Nice! I have already placed an order for the book you suggested. I hope it arrives soon.

Excellent!  I realized after awhile my "salvation" in playing 1. b3 is that I can transpose to an English opening or Bird's (or even a Colle Zukertort); that helps alot when the positon starts getting strange early in the opening-- I just transpose into familiar territory seeking a quiet position I can try and control!

Although now I'm thinking about giving up Larsen's and the London System and taking up 1. d4 proper (i.e. 2. c4), which I have never played on a regular basis-- but that doesn't mean the openings I'm letting go of are bad! Not at all!  I just need something with more punch to it. 

i've been experimenting my last 10 games as white with this opening. My strategy has been to castle queenside by playing b3, b b2, and Nc3 so I can castle queenside quickly.  This puts a rook on the D file which forces the opponent's king to castle kingside, at which point I launch a quick pawnstorm on the king side. Sounds like a good plan huh? NO! I've been getting my arse kicked! If anyone has any advice to help my plan that would be great. Although the queenside is delevoped so quick with Larson, do you always want to castle kingside anyway? I looked at some of Larson's games and he always holes up kingside. Any advice?

I like this one!

rich, different, quirky, reliable.

the main disadvantage is that provided your opponent doesnt take the dubious bet to "Refute" you, he can develop at leisure, and some of black's formations can drain the life out of the position relatively quickly. in that sense, 1.b4 gives the position more spice.