stonewall
What should I play after 1.d4? (Not any gambits just a solid opening)
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Chuck639 wrote:
I went thru this chapter 20 years ago and now recently again after picking up the game again, d4 is a fluster to play against with black.
I played QGD and semi Slav back in the day when Kramnik was the man. It is a stubborn and grinding game if that is your preference. D5 scores a low winning percentage surprisingly.
I’ve looked into the Modern, KID, Nimzo and English Defense while using the Englund Gambit as a band aid for blitz and bullet.
I have refocused my game for rapid and decided on the Modern and Nimzo as my main reportorial. The modern was natural for me because I am a Sicilian player who seeks imbalance and counter play, the modern also had the highest winning percentage so it was obvious to me. We didn’t have strong engines and current databases back then.
The Nimzo, I like the imbalance and straight forward plan on ensuing a weakness on whites pawn structure, play on the c file and fight for the e4 square.
I dismissed the KID because I didn’t like the cramped and closed positions but also, white will run you off the board with the Austrian attack or have you punching air when white opposite castles. Lastly be prepared to trade queens early in the game depending on the thematic pawn push, so boring.
The English defense or QID normally transposes to the Owens defense when white does e4 on the second move and after that, black is inferior.
It is not surprising that d4 d5 loses for Black because there's all kinds of London's involved in the mix and also Trompowsky's and even Richter-Veresov's!
Sep 23, 2021
0
#25
Don't play semi-slav and QGD - I played them for years, like 10 years, it's just bad (if you play semi-slav Campbridge Springs, maybe okay).
First off, if it's so hard to face, you should play it as White. and if you Don't wanna play it as White, because you're afraid of 'that opening', then 'that opening' is what you should play as Black.
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In the Slav (pure Slav, not a6 Slav), I don't get one thing - you give White the center only to get the bishop to f5... I don't find this to be sufficient.
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The Nimzo-Indian is considered the best, and from my small exp., it's very, Very, boring. not saying it's bad, just boring as he__. then you have the Stonewall Dutch, which Carlsen likes, but I don't get it - you have a hole in the wall for the enemy horse to occupy... (who is He, compared to Me anyway?? always listen to Me, not to world champions! even though he's a positional player as well)
Carlsen talks on Stonewall Dutch
https://www.ichess.net/shop/dutch-stonewall-magnus-carlsen/
Sep 23, 2021
0
#26
If you want to see how to deal with the big hole (e5) in the Stonewall Dutch, you may want to look at GM games where this is played.
There are several methods to deal with this: trade the piece off (and get a pawn wedged in there instead) or start a ruckus on some other part of the board where White will be distracted and the outpost will either be abandoned or rendered pointless, effectively putting White down a knight as it sticks to its little fort.
I would suggest the King's Indian or QGD Orthodox defense for a solid but active game.
Indian Game
Sep 23, 2021
0
#29
adityasaxena4 wrote:
Chuck639 wrote:
I went thru this chapter 20 years ago and now recently again after picking up the game again, d4 is a fluster to play against with black.
I played QGD and semi Slav back in the day when Kramnik was the man. It is a stubborn and grinding game if that is your preference. D5 scores a low winning percentage surprisingly.
I’ve looked into the Modern, KID, Nimzo and English Defense while using the Englund Gambit as a band aid for blitz and bullet.
I have refocused my game for rapid and decided on the Modern and Nimzo as my main reportorial. The modern was natural for me because I am a Sicilian player who seeks imbalance and counter play, the modern also had the highest winning percentage so it was obvious to me. We didn’t have strong engines and current databases back then.
The Nimzo, I like the imbalance and straight forward plan on ensuing a weakness on whites pawn structure, play on the c file and fight for the e4 square.
I dismissed the KID because I didn’t like the cramped and closed positions but also, white will run you off the board with the Austrian attack or have you punching air when white opposite castles. Lastly be prepared to trade queens early in the game depending on the thematic pawn push, so boring.
The English defense or QID normally transposes to the Owens defense when white does e4 on the second move and after that, black is inferior.
It is not surprising that d4 d5 loses for Black because there's all kinds of London's involved in the mix and also Trompowsky's and even Richter-Veresov's!
So much theory with d4, d5 and white maintains the sight initiative early in the game.
After some experience and success, I like the Modern Pterodactyl line where I can transpose to the accelerated dragon. Something about having counter play on the c file and long diagonal that are pleasing to my eyes.
I have recently explored the beef eater line (shades of Nimzo) but I just find it premature to give away the dragon bishop immediately even though your are trading for counter play against whites pawn weak pawn structure.
If you are a beginner, check out "The 10 Best Openings for Black" by Andrew Kaufmann on Chessable. The first few on the list are for beginners. I stopped after #3, but for more advanced players, keep reading. 1. French, 2. Caro-Kann, 3. Scandinavian.
That's my choice vs the Dutch, but in five years of playing 1.d4 once or twice/week (otb) I've only seen the Dutch 3 or 4 times, and the last time was so long ago that when someone played 1....f4 a couple of weeks my mind was a complete blank--I just couldn't remember any Staunton lines.