Response against D4

What do members think is the best response against D4? This is when the preferred opening is:

• Theory light
• Easy to learn
• Unbalanced, allowing both sides to have winning opportunities
• Slightly off the beaten track

Every d4 opening has a fair body of theory. I would not pick the Nimzo and Queen's Indian, because then you need a lot of theory and you must learn them both. I am personally no fan of the Grunfeld because white gets the centre. Also it cannot be forced and it's heavy on theory. So, a universal answer would be the King's Indian or the Dutch. There is theory but it is ONE opening, not 3 or 4. My second option is you hope for the Benoni. If white won't play it, settle for a variation of a 1.d4 d5 opening. I have never had a heavy theoretical battle there. Lastly, you can try 1.d4 d5, again settling for 1 setup. I would prefer the Slav or the semi-Slav then, but that is your choice. The latter is a bit livelier, but of course it takes more work to play the most exiting lines. 

Thank you - I like the KID and play the Semi-Slav (dislike the anti moscow). The KID has a reputation for theory heavy, while the Benoni interests me too but which version (same question with the Dutch)?

Look no further. This is what you want:

I like that one. At present i am looking at the KID or a nimzo/ragozin combo.

English defense is not very theory-heavy and is pretty easy to play, plus most non-titled players don't know very well how to play against this:

Bear in mind though that it gives white a noticeable space advantage, and if you play too passive, you may end up squeezed.

Englund gambit 1.d4 e5

Queens gambit declined

I'm reminded of the tagline from the GM Repertoire books: "Tired of bad positions? Try the main lines!"

In my view, it's really not a big deal if an opening has lots of theory, as long as it isn't some super-sharp line where one wrong move will get you crushed. Quite often, "lots of theory" just means that both sides have five different moves that are all playable, and the opening is popular enough so that all of them have been played a lot. Just because an opening has a big tree with 20+ moves of theory doesn't mean that it's necessary to know it all: if you don't, you'll still pick one of the many playable lines and you'll end up with a position that's more or less okay. Trust me on this, your opponents typically won't be any more booked up than you.

Just pick an opening that suits your style. I settled on the Nimzo: it's super-solid and has stood the test of time, and you rarely get stuck with a symmetrical pawn formation. You can pick something else if you like, but don't let yourself be frightened by the main lines. They're the main lines for a reason, and if you insist on playing sidelines, you're only handicapping yourself.

Good advice.

The Classical Dutch fits most of the boxes.  Black generally follows a normal set-up; there is not extensive theory; the pawn formation rarely becomes symmetrical; not only is the Dutch less popular than the Indians and QG complex, but the Classical Dutch is less common than the Leningrad or Stonewall (at least at amateur level in my experience).

The downside is that White had a number of aggressive sidelines, some of them very dangerous.  White can play e4, White can play g4, White can play Bg5.  If you aren't familiar with these moves, you can get swamped.

One good advantage of the Classical Dutch, though: it works very well against Colle and London setups.  Many White players follow these systems blindly against whatever Black plays, and the Classical Dutch seems well-suited to counter such innocuous play from White.  At amateur level, this is important from a practical standpoint.  Someone suggested the Benko Gambit, which would be an excellent choice … but you can’t play it against the omnipresent London, and if that happens in 70% of your games, how useful is that opening?

I play 1...c6 to 1 d4 or 1 c4 hoping to transpose to a Slav Defense (1 d4 c6 2 c4 d5 or 1 c4 c6 2 d4 c5) or a Caro-Kann Defense (1 d4 c6 2 e4 d5),  In any case, I usually get a defense resembling them where I can get my QB outside the pawn chain to f5 or g4 before ...e6 blocks it in.  Since I play those defenses often, I often reach familiar positions.

If White chooses to play and exchange variation, the game can become wide open with Black equalizing fairly quickly. If White chooses and advance variation where e5 is played or where c5 is played, you generally end up with a slow, closed, maneuvering game where Black generally attacks White's c-Pawn or else the e-Pawn. A Black N on d7 usually supports either attack.

As a d4 player I can tell you I don't like having to face the King's Indian Defense and it's easy to learn.  I have a line against it now, but even still it gives me problems! 

Other good responses are the Benoni, Tarrasch and the Dutch is ok (although playing the Staunton Gambit as white is really really fun so I don't mind it) 

Best of luck.  -Stacia

I wrote off the Dutch a long time ago, but Carlsen plays it relatively frequently and wins.

HOLY GRUNFELD !!!. ( Because really noone plays or knows it here in Turkey. )

I think Benko Gambit. Easy, good for blitz, many taсtics 

I've been studying how to play AGAINST the Gruenfeld. You're right about the Benko, katena. Even after studying it, it has been difficult to face. I'm dead even as white against the Benko in a game I have going on right now.

This is really interesting stuff. I once tried learning the Classical Dutch but thought it weak against the London in particular. I have played the London OTB vs the Dutch twice this season (another time vs the stonewall) and won (my ECF is about 154). As a busy Dad of 3 I need to relax off the theory but the KID/Benoni/Benko does call to me.