QID vs. 1. Nf3?

Ok,

So If d4 I play Nf6, if c4 then e6, then if Nc3 Bb4 and if Nf3 the QID with b6.

What if they start 1. Nf3? Well, 1...Nf6 is still the way to go, to guard e4. Then 2. d4 transposes, but 2. c4 keeps it sneaky. After 2. c4, I don't want to play 2...g6, and 2...c5 is also not the QID. So I play 2...e6 aiming for the QID or something related. If they play 3. g3, I can play 3...d5 and they are playing a Catalan, which isn't whites best way to play d4 openings. If they play 3. d4, I can play 3...b6 with my favorite QID.

But what if they play 3. Nc3? In other words, 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3.

If I play 3...d5, it is a QGD, and since the QID is prefered over the QGD, that would mean that 1. Nf3 was BETTER than 1. d4, since blacks best (QGD) would be not as good (as QID).

The next most popular option on the database is 3...Bb4. But it didn't seem like a very good move.

What to do?

I think you mean you prefer the QID over the QGD :-) Also, the Catalan is immensely popular at top level, so it's probably not that bad. You need something against the Catalan anyway because of 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3.

You could go for 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6. There are independent lines like 3.g3, but all in all I think that stays close to your preferred QID, and of course it transposes as soon as white plays d4.

What about the Catalan or the Nimzo-Indian? I think the Catalan (and the Bogo-Indian in case of 3...Bb4+ 4.Bd2) is better for White Queen's gambit players because it looks less heavy on additional theory required to play it. What move is good instead of 3...Bb4+?

Thanks for commenting! I like to learn from IM's :)

Um, what about 2. e4? Isn't that pretty good for white?

Same goes for 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5. Also notice that in the case of 3...d5 Black has avoided the most annoying exchange variations (since the knight is already committed to f3) while Black can enter the ambitious Ragozin variation.

Now, what is your take on 3...Bb4? It just didn't seem good because 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 etc. and white seemed to be picking up an advantage, since it is the Qc2 veriation of the Nimzo without d4, which seems to favor white?

If they play 3. g3, I can play 3...d5 and they are playing a Catalan, which isn't whites best way to play d4 openings.

Really? You should go educating Carlsen, who had a very tough time today playing the Black side of a Catalan against Vlad. Or maybe go educating yourself- whatever comes second.

Ok, well does that mean you think that the Catalan is whites best way to play? I mean, for example after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 is better than 3. Nf3 or 3. Nc3?

Thanks! I think I will go with 3...Bb4, it doesn't seem that bad, and I might look into 1...b6 as well :)

Thanks so much!

Try 1.Nf3 b6 2.c4 e6 3. d4 Nf6 post if it doesn't work

I also like the QID and my opinion...: If 1. d4 nf6 2. c4 e6 if 3. nf3 then go for QID if 3. Nc3 then go for c5 to enter benoni lines...i do not know if this will work for you or if this transposition to benoni is good or bad for black...

1. G1-F3 G8-F6 2 C2-C4 B7-B6 3 D2-D4 E7-E6