Without knowing your skill level, preferred opening choices and that of your opponents, this is too broad a question to answer! As White, are you prepared against the Tarrasch? Slav? the Semi-slav? the Albin countergambit? the Austrian defence? Here's an idea: if you want to narrow it down a little bit (for ease of preparation), why not try the Catalan? Of course, you have to be aware of certain move order issues. But in general, the Catalan is not too memory heavy, and almost always gives White a pleasant game.
Queen's gambit & Caro-Kann - potential troubles
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May 31, 2014
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#3
If your opponents didn't know Queen's gambit or the Caro-Kann I would hazard to guess they aren't highly rated players. Therefor their ability to prepare is going to be very limited. So I'd say stick with what you know.
If you want to study up a bit, I'd say do a couple web searches like you don't know the openings and are trying to come up with a response. See what results you get (probably slav for for QG and advanced variation for Cara-Kann). Focus some extra research on countering those response as that is what you opponents are likely to try if they do any research.
Hello. Today I played the first part of the two-part tournament. I played Queen gambit as white and Caro-Kann as black and my opponents evidently didn't know how to deal well with these openings (They are used to e4 e5. Also they accepted QG).
Next week I will play the second part of the tournament and most of my opponents will know my openings (90% of them is from the same team) and they will probably prepare. Is there anything special they can prepare to play against me and which I should beware?