Solid Forcing Lines against Van't Kruijs Opening?

Hey there! I'm Bodhisattva and today I'm hoping for a bit of help with a problem I've ran into a great deal lately.

For whatever reason, the meta in blitz chess at my ELO has a great deal of Van't Kruijs opening.

Now I know this has a great deal of transpositions, not unlike the English. But I also know it's not a favorable tool to use, as it stakes only a modest claim at the center, while not attacking the center in any sort of hypermodern fashion. The problem is - I don't know how to play a very sound game of chess as Black. I try to rapidly develop but I'm not sure what forcing lines I can push.

Any help?

1 e3 fails to stake a claim in the center as you've observed. You've got a free hand in the center so moves like e5, d5, and c5 are all available (along with pretty much anything else). It's not like white made some big mistake, so don't expect there to be "forcing lines". 1 e3 is kind of an unambitious way for white to begin, but it's still a reasonable move. Could be a good choice against an opponent who isn't comfortable facing anything other than e4 / d4.

The answer to your main question as to which line is most *forcing* has to be 1...e5, because usually White will follow with 2. d4, so after the exchange of center pawns, the position is dead even. Whether you like drawish, symmetrical positions is another matter.

In contrast, if Black responds with 1...d5, then White could follow with 2. d3, 2. d4, or something else, and presumably White's response at that point is less predictable (not forcing).

1. e3 {Van't Kruijs Opening.}

1...e5 {"Walther Defense." #1 pop. b 48%.}
1...d5 {#2 pop. b 48%.}
1...Nf6 {#3 pop. b 43%.}

Yes, 1. e3 is good and solid and there are definitely no forcing lines against it.  1. e3 e5 is the Reversed French.

1.e3 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.exd4 d5 is a transposition to an Exchange French. I think this is the most forcing way to play, since 2.c4 is probably the only major alternative to challenge the center. If you like 1.e4 as White, this might be the best way to go. Emanuel Berg's repertoire book (The French Defence Vol. 3) shows an active way to handle the Exchange French as Black.

On the rare occasion I faced this move, I played 1...d5 and there is a high tendency to tranpose to the Colle (2.d4), Bird (2.f4), or some kind of Nimzo-Larsen system (2.e3 or 2.b3). 2.c4!? might be an interesting independent try, but 2...e6 is really solid. Just play chess.

Thanks for the help guys

My first rated tournament game

i don't know much about the van't krujis is this line good for white.

4. c4 is not so good. Better moves: 4. Nf3, 4. Bd3 and 4. Nc3.

I just play 1...d5. It usually just turns into a queens pawn opening. 1...e5 is ok too when 2.d4 and 2.c4 are things to think about I guess.

why isn't it good? 

hi

If you know any queen pawn openings, just play 1...d5 when white has reduced possibilities due to having played e3.