It makes sense you're avoiding mainline theory. In my experience with the Veresov (similar to the Jobava) ... while you do succeed in getting the opponent out of theory, once you reach move 8-12 and both of you are out of theory... the position can sometimes be a little less forgiving of white because you have the knight stuck on c3 in some cases. You can mitigate that problem by memorizing the theory in even more depth... in the process you might throw your opponent for a complete loop. But if you just want to play casually you can't as easily cash in on your superior theory knowledge like that. But I still think the chigorin in general is a great opening.... but it's also worth experimenting with other things
One thing I will say in favor of the QGD is... once you reach the point where both players are out of theory - whenever that happens - whites position is very natural and easy to play. Especially in the QGD exchange, that position is pretty much the dream for white. It can get difficult in the tartakower or lasker variations, so I don't play those.
QGD would be great but then there's always the prospect of facing some black player that knows the theory out to move 30. And QGD is the most common defense to d4. So...
While I do think it's necessary to keep the opponent out of book... I think "best by test" ultimately has to be part of this process as well. And combine that with examining the winrates at different elo levels and time controls... it also depends on what your elo target is. If you're just aiming for 2000 maybe worrying about getting out-theorized is over worrying.
So maybe you just need a set of openings that are candidates, openings that aren't mainline theory and seem decent... and then spend maybe a few weeks learning them / playing them and just focus on how they feel, and look at their winrates at your target elo / time control / think about the positions. So here are some candidates I'd consider-
- nimzo larsen attack
- trompowsky
- russian slav or breyer slav (lines within the slav but still not common / will throw off black)
- QGD exchange, even though the exchange is mainline theory it's just such a natural position for white I think it's still worth considering. But I definitely would not play any other QGD lines
- jobava and regular london should still be on the table probably
- reti opening / kings indian attack
- vienna falkbeer gambit + something against the sicilian
- Torre attack, possibly combined with the Colle (you can also transpose from the Trompowsky into the Torre)
- Ponziani opening
- neo-catalan or pseudo-catalan (sam shankland has a course on a repertoire for white based on this)
- others?
I leave the veresov / the bird opening off the list cuz I think to justify them you need to invest more time in theory.
I've had my eye on the nimzo larsen for a while but haven't really messed around with it yet. But I hear only good things about it. I think it can turn into a system-like game with the fiancetto but it can also be sharp in a few variations.
I'm not sure I can give up the chigorin though, I can't tell you how many wins I get from people transposing unknowingly into a french or pirc. Check out the byrn variation of the pirc where you push e5 if you haven't already - 1. d4 g6 2. e4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bg7 5. e5 - easy wins and not alot to memorize really
Another way to approach this, which is maybe more sophisticated, is to find a rare sideling within a common opening... sometimes with this approach you can get the opponent out of book but not make some major positional concession. One example of this I'm aware of ... as black I play the nimzowitsch sicilian. On it's face it's a sicilian, which is the most common response to e4 ... but only 1% of black players play the nimzowitsch. Pretty much no one I encounter knows how to punish it, so it's basically an improved alekhines defense... I think I've gotten 2 games of people who played the main line, like 1% of players reach that line, and it's still a viable line. The same is true with the four knights sicilian... it's another line I play, very rarely do I run into the mainline, I almost always am able to push d5 in the sicilian by move 5 and the game is easy from there. Point is there may be some other lines like this in the QGD or elsewhere - sidelines within common lines you can find... you'll just have to search around for them. And when you find them be sure to tell us about them...
Here's something like that for white that's interesting -
1. e4 c5 2. d3
If black screws this up it can be surprisingly punishing, and almost no one plays it. You can followup with f4 in some positions - a closed sicilian. Or you can play Ne2 / c4 / Nc3 and play it like a botvinnik.
If you can avoid making major positional concessions but still get the opponent out of book I think this is the ideal scenario, from there your instincts can take over. So that's also the sort of thing I think you have to look for.
Hi
I am sitting around 1650 Fide (Standard) and 1700s for Rapid/Blitz. I have changed from being E4 player to D4 to avoid theory (since I work full time). I have found systems provide a good opening (minimises blunders) and lets me play middle/end game without being booked out by my opposition who may have more time than me to study.
I wanted to get some feedback from others who have decided to play d4, c4 (Queens gambit lines) for the main weapon.
Do you have any books/courses on chessable/youtube to get a good understanding. I use to play the London/ and later Jobova over the last 2 years with white.
I am comfortable with my black lines, and looking to drastically improve my white results (I get a lot of draws or slow losses).
Cheers,
Justin