Options against d4

Hello,

I would like you to ask your opinion about my current options against D4.

First of all the "noteboom" which I supposed is the more solid, this is what I usually play

And then looking for different options, not popular, and aggresive, breaking the tipical Queens Gambit structure, I have tryed the Dutch Defense, stats does not seem great in this case, but I imagine that well played it is not so bad  and the budapest gambit. I also look the Albin's Gambit  but I looked more playeable de Budapest in case white knew hot response, I do not know if I am correct

Thank you for your comments,

The Noteboom is by no means solid.  It's highly theoretical and very risky with Black banking on the connected outside passers to take him home going up against a completely white-dominated center (Black is David, White is Goliath).

It sounds like you are looking for something a little less theoretical if I understand you correctly, and not a line where a single, minor error is going to blow you off the board (of course, any major blunder will kill you, even in the QGD).

My suggestion is the Old Indian Defense.  It comes in 3 garden varieties:

A) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 e4 - Very risky, one slip could cost you, kinda like the Noteboom

B) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 intending 4.Nf3 Nbd7 or 4.e4 Nbd7.  This allows White to exchange pawns and queens with a drawish ending.  If all you need is a draw in the final round of a tournament, this may be the way to go.

C) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 intending 4.e4 e5 or 4.Nf3 e5.  There is no real benefit for White to deviate, and this is a much more solid line than line A, leaves lots of room for error for White, and if you understand all the main ideas, you can get a great game with usually a win or draw each time.  Concepts like 5.d5 Nc5! 6.f3 (or 6.Qc2 or 6.Bd3) a5! (Similar to what Black does in the Petrosian King's Indian to keep that outpost on c5).

I would recommend line C (why give White an extra option via line B?).  If you wanted to understand all the ideas and options (there's classic theory and modern approaches, both are covered), get "The Old Indian: Move by Move".

If you really want to burn your bridges with line A and are willing to take your lumps with more losses, though possibly a couple more wins and huge fireworks in your game, line A is covered in "The New Old Indian" that was written maybe 3 years ago.

chigorin defence

play the grunfeld and don't look back.

Hello,

I think we all agree that QG is clearly a powerful opening and it is difficult to get equality, however I am not so sure that note Notebook is a kinda  David Vs Goliath in fact isconsidered a good weapong against it.

Just let me show the stats in the different alternatives, here are, on the chart bellow 37,2% white, 22,3% draw and 40,2% black! this superiotiy continues all over the normal sequence of the noteboom,  until the end! (If white play before bg5 it is not so good, althoug not bad) which as you will see is quite unusual against QG, and if white take another way out of the main line is even higher, I think in general people understimates the power of this two passed pawns at the end, white also has to be very careful. more than it seems

I like the approach you say, at least is something more unexpected and solid at the same time, the the stats on line if Nf3, e5 are 46% for white, 30% draw, 23,7% black

The same as with GQA people are not so used to as Fiveofswords said, stats 37,9% white 39% draw, 23,1% black

On the Dutch, stats are quite bad for black as well, I recognise that it appeals to me, is also a different approach attacking on the kingside 

43,5% white, 28,6% draw, 27,9% black

Albin Gambit, 51% white, 19,6 draw, 29,3% black

Budapest Gambit 50 % white, 26,8% draw, 22,6% black

 The gambits have incredible sharp lines if white is note prepared, I do not put Benko Gambit which could be even better becase is focussed on the Queenside an just for personal taste I like to attack on the King Side whenever is possible

Just to compare, main line against QG, 2e6 ,36,1% white, 37,9% draw, 26,1% black

Althoug everything is not stats, if not everybody will play Rui Lopez, and QG ;))

Try the English Defense. It is similar to the Dutch but not as well known so you can catch your opponent off guard. GM Simon Williams has a video series about it on chess.com.

I don't know what database you are using (if you are using chess.com, avoid it, it's garbage, and full of garbage games).

On 365chess.com, after 4.Nf3 e5, it's 42% White, 32.7% Draw, 25.9% Black.

But here's the problem with your theory of displaying numbers and basing what you play on those numbers.

Sure, the numbers may look worse than say, the Sicilian Najdorf, but you do see that Black does win, right?  His wins are not 0!  Therefore, it's not refuted.

Here's the real kicker.  Let's just say that hypothetically, one opening scores 46% for Black (That percent is determined by adding Black wins to 50% of the draw number, so if it's 50% White, 30% Draw, 20% Black, it is said that Black scores 35% (20 + half of 30) = 35.

Generally, if this number is at least 40, you are good.  Here's why.  Take the Najdorf and Caro-Kann.  Let's just say the Najdorf scores 48%, and the Caro-Kann scores 45%.  That's the scores of other players.  What matters is what do you know and what positions are you comfortable with.  If you know the Caro-Kann like the back of your hand, and the Najdorf you haven't played once in your life, FOR YOU, the Caro-Kann WILL SCORE BETTER than the Najdorf, and YOU is who matters in your games.

So suggestions are not going to be based on stats, they will be based on described style.  If you are going to write off our suggestions because of stupid stat numbers, and those numbers are over 40% for Black, why ask?

^And you don't think the 365chess database is full of "garbage games"? Even a friend from my chess club rated only about 1300 was complaining that some of the games he found in there were of very low quality.

Not saying I never use it- its feature which finds strong players who play certain lines frequently is very useful. But I don't think it's better than chess.com's in terms of game quality.

Hello,

I just want to requote the final paragraph of my post:

Althoug everything is not stats, if not everybody will play Rui Lopez, and QG ;))

Estindian,what else?xD

If you're stuck on the Noteboom I can tell you that a lot of books recommend white avoid that, and instead go in for the Semi-Slav Marshall Gambit. So decent chance you'll see a lot of those, and you'd have to want to play those positions where you pick up a pawn or two and try to beat back white's attack.

Also I'd be willing to bet that at lower levels openings like the Dutch, Benko gambit, KID, or Chigorin are going to score pretty well for black.

Chessgames.com has less games than the 365chess database, but they are definitely of better overall quality. You won't find games between 1300 rated players influencing the stats there, but you have to be a premium member to get all the features of the database, whereas the 365 database is free with registry.

Hello,

Sorry I had to go, and I could not continue,

First thing first, and is to thank you for your complete answer,

I wanted to get out of main line, so I am not keeping Noteboom, I love the gambits Albin and Budapest but may be are not a solid choice to invest my time on.

I am just having a look at the one you told me, and also English Defense and the Dutch, I have played against both when I played GQ and they took me offguard . KID and Chingorin are more "usual"

Yes, stats are only to have a general idea, in fact, at lowers levels aa myself does not apply so much, it is better to have a not well know option and full of traps. 

English Defense seems nice and more if it has a video, I am extremely slow reading chess books, and I like to understand the opening not only to memorize the movements, I will have a look at them

Thanks

The King's Indian Defense is an opening used by many high rated players against 1.d4. Another option is the Mexican Defense which avoids main lines and can confuse d4 players below 2300 as they don't really know this opening and the traps involved.

The Czech Benoni is a pet line that I play ocassionally when I don't feel like playing theory. It really throws many people off, and its not easy to play against if you don't know the themes. Of course white has some edge out of the opening due to the space advantage, but nothing that will decide the game. There's plenty of play for both sides. One thing is that you can't force a Benoni, and you'll need to have answers to 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3. e3 as well as 3. Nf3. Also Londons, Colles, Trompowskys etc.