Openings Crash Course (just to avoid blunders)

I am currently a 900 level player.  I am NOT looking to deeply study openings and become a 2000 level player.  I just want to avoid that 1 in 4 times when the 900 player screws me within the first 3-4 moves.   (Can't castle, takes material with a fork, bad Queen trade, etc)

I think with this thread, I can learn a few standard responses to avoid blundering the "top 5" most common opening gambits.   Again, I am NOT looking to optmize play, but rather, just avoid blunders by making the generally accepted" move, in order to make it to the mid game without an opening blunder.  I will post a situations I've run into, and maybe you guys can tell me the proper general response.  

CASE 1:  I am white.  What would you do for white's 2nd move?  I tend to avoid d4.  Correct?   Or, do I play d4, and recapture with my Q?  

PS: For example, one thematic adjustment I MAY need to make.  I basically avoid bringing my Q out early.  But, I see people running a gambit on me with their early Q and screwing me.  So, I started doing the same thing.  The most obvious ploy is to get them to trade pawns so my forced Queen trade (with King recapture) ruins their castle.  So, I now play that on my opponent.  But, I also have been offering the gambit to have my Q out in the opening.  This will take some practice to develop the proper follow-through.

Bear in mind that the danger involved in losing castling privileges is much reduced once the Queens are off the board... so your plan of trading Queens "to ruin their castling" doesn't have much bite.

Re: your question of what to do after 1. e4 c5 -

At your level, why not 2. Nc3 (to inhibit a later ,,, d5 move by your opponent) and then just develop your pieces?

In general you don't want to get your queen out too early.  It can be attacked while your opponent develops his minor pieces and gains tempos by threatening the queen.  Get your minor pieces out and then castle.  Generally you want to bring out your knights before your bishops.  Also try to control the center of the board with your pawns.  1. e4 is one good way to do that.

You can play 2.Nf3.

I expect that a 900-player wouldn't want to study sharp opening lines. That's why I suggested the Closed Sicilian (2. Nc3) instead.

Ok, so a general response to CASE 1 is to just develop my knights, and not worry about the black pawn blocking my own d4.  And, more importantly, don't bother with d4 and getting my Q to the middle.  Again, I have always avoided this b/c I just lose tempo as my Q gets attacked.  But, it seems my opponents have been using early Queen against my fairly successfully.

CASE 2.  

I am white. Safest, most general response to this to avoid a blunder for white?  If white takes the pawn, black has queen out early, and while white can gain tempo by chasing Q, it seems that backfires, and white gets screwed somehow.  I prefer not to have black have his queen out early, for now.  

Best response for white?  

• Is the answer for my needs...Nc3 protects e4?  
• f3 protects, but compromises King side castle pawn structure.  
• d3 protects, but blocks in the white bishop.

2. exd5 is almost certainly the best move.

2. Nc3 would be a good answer if not for the reply 2. ... dxe4 followed by a Caro-Kann-type development by Black, but having saved a tempo by not playing c7-c6 before d7-d5.

After Nc3 cant black just kick the knight with d5 forcing  it to a passive square.Your best response is exd5 and then Nc6 Then if Qa5 you can play d4 or Nf3.If he plays something else your best bet is to try to gain tempo attacking but make sure you dont overextend.

1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 d4 3. Ne2 and White will follow by fianchettoing the King's Bishop (g3 and Bg2), Nf3, O-O, d3 and he has an excellent colors-reversed King's Indian position, with Black already committed to locking the center (which is NOT best play in many lines).

The drawback of 1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 is NOT 2. ... d4. It's 2. ... dxe4 with a transposition into a Caro-Kann type position, but virtually a whole move up for Black.

So black is a tempo up with dxe4

If he then plays as if it were a Caro-Kann (but without wasting a move on c7-c6... pushing it later on straight from c7-c5), yes.

i genrally look pepole in the eye if they look too good i use kings indian attack againt sicillan and french don't really come aacross the caro the other  thing is to set up a maroxcy bind witch dosn't take mutch learning either

take the scandi on ed qd4 nc3 followed by queenside fianchetto

Avoiding blunders means optimizing play. Instead of worrying about openings you should probably concentrate on these two tactical themes: the pin and the double attack.

The pin occurs more frequent in the opening than any other tactic. A pinned piece is a paralyzed and useless piece. Unpin as soon as possible.

If a double attack occurs, then it means 1) your pawn structure is weak and 2) your pieces are not developed correctly.

PIck yourself a few standard opening.  Learn them, and save yourself thousands of mindless keystrokes, as per this thread.

All the tactics you need to reach USCF C or B Class (1400-1600) are contained in a very short, 150 page book by Paul Littlewood, Chess Tactics (1984).

There's a body of knowledge you must learn COLD, in order to advance.  So get with the program.  Openings are an utter waste of your time at a 900 rating.  End of Story.

Ok, so consensus is that white should take the pawn.  Thanks!

CASE 2A:  So this is an "acceptable" line for white?

CASE 2B:  What is the best response to this check by black?

dunno who wrote it c.o.o.l chess and h.o.t chess are good books systems are a good start

CASE 3:  I am Black.  I responded with Nc6.  Is that a non-blunder?  What are other valid responses?