What Defense Would Slow A Grandmaster?

              If you were in a contest to see who could play the most number of moves against a Grandmaster, what would you play as black?  And why?
              How about if you were white.  What would you open with to get in
the most moves?  And why?
              Last, how many moves do you think you could last as white or black
against a Grandmaster?  It's fun to think about, isn't it?

Which grandmaster?

Having played a GM several years ago, I want to say that I think it's a mistake to simply try to last as long as possible before getting mated - what's the benefit in that? You should play to win, or probably to at least draw.

Play as if you were on the black side of bughouse

Why play for moves? Play for a win, aim high. I'd play the sicilian as black, if I could, but you don't have much of a choice as black. As white, probably the Queen's Gambit.

Well, when GMs play GMs, they generally play main lines of well known openings. Seems that's the best way to play against GMs.

Actually, if you're looking for strategy against a much higher rated player, it would be better to play off lines of openings to catch them off guard, force them to think and give them a chance to make a mistake. If you just play the main lines, you're playing into positions that they have most likely seen before and could play without effort.

Actually, this sounds like the advice for playing a lower rated player.

How so? I'm not talking about playing bad lines. Just ones that are uncommon. When you're playing a GM you can bet anything he's going to know his main line opening variations better than you ever would.

But in an uncommon position, the GM will just be able to outplay you even quicker than if you 'survived' in the mainlines for 20 moves :/

Not if you know the uncommon lines better. I'm not saying play something totally off the wall or just plain wrong. Play into a position you've studied well, with a good chance that a GM would not have prepared themself.

Most uncommon lines are inferior, at GM level.

Play drawish. For example 1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. ed

I'd play something solid, like the French, Caro-Kann, or Stonewall, and hold on like grim death, looking for my chance...

         Thanks for all the great feedback.  Obviously this is a question that really
brings out strong opinions.

Caro can as black and R. Lopez exchange variation as white. That is the best I know. Sometimes GM loses from GM in 20 moves.

I think that we need a GM's opinion on this

 Let me tell you the majority of my opponents lost due to trying to follow "uncommon" (read "unsound") lines - unless you have researched and found an alternate sound variation, the surest way to lose to a high-ranked player - not only GMs - is just that!

In a current vote chess, one team just played an uncommon/unsound single move, and just for that they are going to lose instantly (sorry, I cannot give you a link or the analysis as it is still running)!

On the other hand, following sound lines we can continue for more moves against strong players...

If anyone has Yermo's "The Road to Chess Improvement" nearby, perhaps they could post his quote about following main lines against GMs? My copy is borrowed out...

I can't quote exactly what GM Yermolinsky writes in his book, but the gist of it is :

"I love it when lower-rated players play inferior lines against me, hoping to surprise me. This way I can start the middlegame play from a position of strength. So go on : surprise me, throw me off balance, make me think by myself. You give me a slightly superior position, and I'm confident I will outplay anybody rated 300 pts lower than me from there."

Reasonable logic says each player will have his/her own weaknesses including which openings give them the most greif.  I am practically a novice, and wouldn't know one opening from another by name, with only a couple exceptions.  But I would think playing your game, and doing the best you can with a style you are comfortable and familiar with is the best strategy.