What opening suggestions against D4?

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Avatar of caseyfloridian

I've had trouble finding an opening I've liked against D4 and was curious if anyone might have some suggestions for me. Against E4 I play best w/ the sicilian sveshnikov and the caro kann is there anything I could play that would give me a similar feel to either of those? Thanks!

Avatar of Kowarenai

i too struggle against d4 and dont use anything except slav, KID, and some gambit

Avatar of caseyfloridian
Fuchuina wrote:

i too struggle against d4 and dont use anything except slav, KID, and some gambit

Haven't tried the slav I'll check it out I've been playing KID most often but gets old

Avatar of Kowarenai

well i try to find something which is solid i am comfortable playing with but its just not easy as KID is super complicated and slav is just positional and trying to outplay your opponent

Avatar of caseyfloridian
Fuchuina wrote:

well i try to find something which is solid i am comfortable playing with but its just not easy as KID is super complicated and slav is just positional and trying to outplay your opponent

Appreciate the input bro happy.png 

Avatar of PLAYERIII

I always like to play Indian games and avoid, at all costs, Queen’s gambit… As white, I feel comfortable in the Queen’s gambit, even if I lose a tempo.

Avatar of ThrillerFan
caseyfloridian wrote:
Fuchuina wrote:

i too struggle against d4 and dont use anything except slav, KID, and some gambit

Haven't tried the slav I'll check it out I've been playing KID most often but gets old

 

How can the King's Indian get old?  You must not know the ins and outs of the King's Indian.  I am going to guess you are like many amateurs that just see it as a hack job on the White King in the Mar Del Plata.

 

There are numerous lines beyond that.  For example, after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O, rather than 7...Nc6, you have 7...Na6, 7...Nbd7, or what I have played lately, 7...exd4.

 

So many options in the Saemiach, Fianchetto, Averbakh, etc as well.

 

One thing it should never get is old unless you are failing to diversify your lines.  No need to learn multiple openings.  Vary what you do within the opening!

 

I now pretty much line and die by the French and King's Indian Defenses.  You can do the same with the Sicilian and King's Indian!

Avatar of ThrillerFan
Fuchuina wrote:

well i try to find something which is solid i am comfortable playing with but its just not easy as KID is super complicated and slav is just positional and trying to outplay your opponent

 

Slav can get wild too, especially the 5.e4 lines!

Avatar of tygxc

Simplest is 1 d4 d5. Queen's Gambit Accepted, Queen's Gambit Declined, Slav Defence, all viable.

Avatar of ShuckleSquad13

budapest lol

Avatar of ThrillerFan

Budapest is crap (the opening, not the city)

Avatar of SwimmerBill

Wow! Sveshnikov and the caro kann cover insane tactics without a clear positional idea to super solid. For insane tactics you can try von Hennig-Schara gambit or Grunfeld or Benoni. For super solid I'd suggest Tartakover QGD, semi-Tarrasch QGD or even just the straight up QGD with Capa's freeing manuver.  Just me throwing out good&bad ideas. -Bill

Avatar of ShuckleSquad13
ThrillerFan wrote:

Budapest is crap (the opening, not the city)

I was joking lol

Avatar of EKAFC

I personally love the Semi-Slav especially the Botvinnik but a lot of people don't play into a Semi-Slav let alone the Botvinnik. I would try the Grunfeld out. No one plays it so you will get the element of surprise and it is a very good opening. Also, you avoid Colle System and can play the Anti-London if need be. 

 

I would recommend you check out Chessable for the Grunfeld or any other opening against d4

Avatar of ThrillerFan
RayDonavon wrote:
KN6
Allows you to play Queens Indian or Nimzo Indian, could lead to Grunfield.or the Benoni.

 

Do you mean Nf6?

"KN6" doesn't mean anything and "K-N6" (Descriptive Notation) would mean, for Black, what most know as ...Kg3 or ...Kb3, which I do not think Black wants to do in the opening.

Avatar of Morfizera

Dutch, KID, Benoni and Gruenfeld

Avatar of daxypoo
my issue vs d4 is 9/10 games is a london

1/10 is a 1.d4 2.c4 and it always feels like i am rusty with my slav game

so- what do you do against the london?

and pretty much any of the “queen’s gambit” defenses seem relevant

qgd
slav
kid
nimzo
benoni
benko
dutch
grunfeld
budapest
Avatar of MisterWindUpBird

Set up for Hippo and don't immediately castle. Eventually you will be dragged screaming into the light and dispatched anyway, but I sense you seek to prolong the inevitable.wn.pngwr.pngbk.pngwq.png

Avatar of EKAFC
daxypoo wrote:
my issue vs d4 is 9/10 games is a london

1/10 is a 1.d4 2.c4 and it always feels like i am rusty with my slav game

so- what do you do against the london?

and pretty much any of the “queen’s gambit” defenses seem relevant

qgd
slav
kid
nimzo
benoni
benko
dutch
grunfeld
budapest

A lot of it stems from top streamers like Aman Hambleton, Levy Rozman, and Andrea Botez who promote it to new players because "MaGnUs PlAyS iT" and it's sound. I feel like one of the few d4 players that actually play the Queen's Gambit. Worst part is Levy hates facing it

Avatar of GeorgeWyhv14

Qgd is more positional not tactical like king gambit and many e4 lines and etc.