What is your opinion of this opening?

It's like a queenside Italian Game, maybe it could work?

Neat!

Thanks

Thank you

3. Bf4 looks like a worse placement of the bishop than the usual 3. Bg5, but it's probably playable. I think blacks best response is 3...c5.

3... c5 seems strong, what would white's best response to that be? I'm thinking of 4. Nb5, but that's perhaps a bit over-aggressive?

Gm's tend to play c6 in this position. I have no clue why. I just looked it up in the database

I believe this is called the Mason Variation of the Chiogorin. Sombody correct me if I'm wrong.

Going queenside attack?

Chigorin is 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6. 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 is the Veresov, not sure if Bf4 falls under the Veresov though.

Here's a game with this opening

bf4 doesn't look too strong. If you want, you could play the Veresov with Bg5 followed by f3...e4...bh4...bf2 with a strong game

Man! Gnu Chess must have been running on linux 2.0.34 on x286 processor to play so badly :)~

There's a queen pawn opening called the London System, which is characterized by the moves d4, Nf3, Bf4.  This is somewhat similar, but less flexible because of an early queen knight to c3, blocking your c-pawn.

It's playable, I'm sure, but it doesn't strike me as particularly strong -- looks like an easy game for Black.  How would you proceed after, say, 3...c6?  Black's center is unassailable, and your Bf4 isn't doing much since there are no threats to c7.