underrated/underused openings

what do you think are the most underrated or underused openings that you believe deserve more attention?

I definitely like the scotch game

I also like the London system. I had never heard of until I saw it mentioned in a chess book, and most people don't know how to defend it.

agreed, the 1.e4 sidelines (vienna, bishop's opening, scotch etc) are surprisingly underrated. They are sound and especially deadly without prep agaisnt them.

1.g3 and 1.nc3 are underestimated as mere transpositional tools which means your opponent can land in a nasty surprise. 

the 1.d4 sidelines (besides the london)like the tropowsky , veserov, and the newe jovaba attack are still understimated.

1.b4 is still heavily underestimated.

Virtually every opening which doesn't vomit up material, but which isn't used or respected by super GM's.  

All the openings given here are not underestimated.

They are well known as reliable.

Scotch and London are even major openings...

Something which was really underestimated was exchange Caro Kann, which is nowadays one of white main tries to find an advantage against 1.c6. Same with 2 knigths variations against this defence.

To really answer the question, let's say Austrian defence, which is see as bad or dubious, but Mamedyarov often plays it with some success.

Baltic defence (which is a reversed London) is interesting and not easy for white to prove something against it.

There are many sub variations, not considered by most, which are playable. Maybe underrated because not fashion, or just unknown.

I've just had a look at the games explorer on this website. With the filter set to "Master Games", the highest win percentages for White's first moves are:

1. Na3 - 70%
2. f3 - 47%
3. a4 - 44%

1 Na3 is known as the "Sodium Attack" or the "Durkin Opening". Only 10 games but....70%!

Mark's Opening:

www.Marksopening.blogspot.com

It's at least as good as the Veresov Attack.

Isn't this more commonly called the Jobava London System?

https://www.gingergm.com/shop/jobava-london-system

But since your blog is from 2008 - maybe "Mark's Opening" is the correct name!

The French is highly popular.

I've heard a few incorrect names for it, usually including the name Jobava. Baduur Jobava plays the opening, but the correct name is Mark's Opening.

• The Nimzowitsch defense [Because of its rarity]
• The Dutch (both Leningrad and Stonewall) 
• The O'Kelly Sicilian [Can transpose to other Sicilian's potentially getting 'out of book"]

Then why Mark's Opening and not the Colovic Opening or Colovic Attack? FM Dusan Colovic seems to play it regularly and has games on record predating this blog.

Thanks @SaintMark - Mark's opening it is then!

Maybe Dusan Colovic just never published any analysis of it?

The old benoni is great for blitz. An immediate c5 after d4. Gets lazy London players to actually think about the first few moves.

U think this opening has to be named as your own line but...

- your analysis are irrelevant, giving wrong moves and assertions for both sides.

- nobody plays it (except some having no clue what they are doing in openings). Jobava and other don't play it, their move order and the moves they play are different (and somewhat better) than yours.

I dont know why patzers always want to reinvent the wheel or think they are the first one thinking like them, just ridiculous.

 What wrong moves or assertions?

Grandmasters play it. Antoaneta Stefanova plays it; Baduur Jobava plays it; and before it even was an opening, Alexander Alekhine played it.