Opening variants which are psychologically difficult

Hello. Some of variants in many openings, as far as I guess, are of such character that they are very different than (or even exactly opposite to) what the person who initiates the opening goes for. As such they are 'psychologically' difficult for the latter and can be used as such. The example that comes to my mind is Alapin variation played against the Sicilian. Could you please provide the list (as rich as possible) of the pairs of the opening and the response which is 'not what the one who started expects'? (Please include only decent openings).

1. Alapin Variations vs Sicilian Defense

Psychologically difficult?  

Its an opening, just follow opening principles.

An interesting subject. I can think of a few such pairs, typically various attempts by White to forestall Black's aggressive intentions and divert play away from main lines.

- The Exchange French (3.exd5 and 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5)

- King's Indian Attack vs. The French and The Alekhine (usually initiated with 2.d3)

- an early dxe5 + queen exchange vs. The King's Indian

- the 2.Bg5 line vs. The Dutch

- The Nimzovich Counter-Gambit vs. The King's Gambit (2...d5 3.exd5 c6)

- The Adelaide Counter-Gambit vs. The King's Gambit (2...Nc6 3.Nf3 f5)

This list could be easily extended, although it is debatable what constitutes a psychologically difficult variation. For example, one French Defence fan may find The Exchange Variation annoying while another will take it as a sign of the lack of self-confidence or opening knowledge on White's part and will play with redoubled energy against it.

unknown Sicilian gambit: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. e5

Staunton-Cochrane Sicilian: 1. e4 c5 2. c4

Symmetrical Queen's Gambit Declined: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c5

Vienna Game: 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3

Mason Variation: 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4

From Gambit: 1. f4 e5

Chigorin Variation: 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3

1.e4 f5 is psychologically difficult.

You've got more chins than a Chinese phone book.

Thank you very much for all these responses. Is Staunton-Cochrane Sicilian considered a reliable opening and can it be steered in the direction of Maroczy Bind?

I believe it was Pfren on this forum who didn't seem to think much of the Staunton-Cochrane Sicilian (http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/staunton-cochrane-sicilian-my-quotsicilian-killerquot), but GMs like Botvinnik certainly played it (there is even one branch called the Botvinnik System), and I've looked at it a long time and I can't find anything fundamentally wrong with it. I don't believe it can be steered into a Maroczy Bind because of Black's c5-pawn, but it can transpose into the English Opening. I consider it one of the top candidates for an anti-Sicilian attack. Here are others if you are interested in that sort of thing:

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http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/best-sicilian-continuations

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http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/how-do-you-play-against-sicilian-defense

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http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/choosing-an-anti-sicilian

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http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/what-is-best-to-play-against-the-scicillian-defence

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https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/what-is-a-good-anti-scicilian-systen-for-a-1150-player

I think that on amateur level every time Alekhine's Defense 1.e4 Nf6 is psychologically difficult, it may be not right away as white may think 'hey, I'm gonna kick your knight and gain lots of space' but after first few moves, which may look awful on the black's part (that's not the stuff you normally want to do in other openings), it appears that black starts to build up pressure on white's centre, and he may find himself in serious discomfort. It's worth to mention that after 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5! black already gains a very comfortable game if you know what to do. 

If you open with 1.Nf3 and your opponent invites you to play Sicilian with 1...c5, you may catch him offguard by 2.c4! and he's obliged to play Symmetrical English (well, I think it's quite possible he wouldn't like it).

Also, most of black players may not be accustomed to playing Closed Sicilian (which is perfectly playable), so after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 you can play for example 3.f4 Grand Prix Attack.

I agree this is interesting, though I don't agree with a lot of listed variations. Many things such as anti-sicilians, black is actually more accustomed to be playing because every amatuer wants to avoid mainlines.

Certain opening tabiyas naturally result in certain types of play. I believe the psychologically 'difficult' openings will be the ones that either go against this natural current for the opponent, result in vary unique types of positions, or force the opponent to defend accurately (defending is typically harder than attacking for most people)

Examples of atypical flow openings that spring to mind are the romanishin variations in the nimzo indian:

One openings that leads to very unique positions that comes to my mind is the trompowsky, as well as a few highly specific lines fairly deep into some openings, but more unlikely to occur.

Openings that are difficult to play defensively imo are things such as the blumenfeld or danish, if they are accepted which is obviously not forced.

Not to say anything but for me From Gambit is definetly on the other side of the spectrum of being psychology bad

Very interesting question!Psychology plays a huge role in OTB chess and that is what makes such pieces of advice as "Play the board not the man" somewhat empty and meaningless.In reality only computers play the board and it pays to create an uncomfortable situation for your opponent from the opening.I guess Lasker,Alekhine and Botvinnik are distinguished for recognising the huge importance of psychology and using it to their advantage.The comments of Nebber_Agin by the way I find very interesting.I think a general guideline for the opening  might be how to put your opponent out of their comfort zone.

French Exchange

KID Exchange 

Crush Black's dreams. Make him suffer. Give him boring equality in the place of the dynamic game he was hoping for (or she, I suppose).

Give him boring equality? White is playing this game too. Why would people choose to voluntarily spend their time playing boring chess?

I would like to add some transpositional possibilities for the first player which despite being objectively "harmless", may well throw your opponent off balance, since you are creating a very different "opening landscape" for them from the one they seemed to desire initially. 1)From the Fromm gambit  to the King's gambit: 1f2-f4  e7-e5   2e2-e4!?   2)From the accelerated Benoni to Morra gambit:  1d2-d4  c7-c5  2e2-e4!?  3)From the Alapin countergambit to a French with colors reversed and a tempo up:  1d2-d4  d7-d5 2c2-c4  e7-e5  3e2-e3!?  4)From the Englund gambit to a Caro-Kann reversed  and a tempo up:  1d2-d4  e7-e5  2c2-c3!?