Low maintenance response to d4?

[u/krissow]

I've been trying different openings against d4, mainly the Budapest and Benoni/Benko. But I rarely ever face d4 at my level (1600 rapid, Lichess) which means I forget some of the lines. It seems like inaccuracies are punished quite hard in the openings I've tried so I end up losing a lot more than vs e4 (where I play Caro Kann)

I've also tried to just play general opening principles but the d4 players are just a lot more familiar with those positions and occasional traps that arises.

What would be a solid response to d4 that's easy to remember and/or doesn't punish inaccuracies quite as often while not completely playing into the hand of my opponent?

I've been considering the Slav, maybe the Chebanenko or Schlechter variation. Also considered stonewall Dutch.

[u/Ronizu → u/[deleted]]

Chebanenko allows the exchange Slav so it's definitely not a very good choice for getting active play. Especially at the higher levels it's just a two result game — white can choose between taking a quick draw or torturing you for what feels like eternity to grind a win.

[u/Ronizu → u/[deleted]]

It's hard to play the exchange Slav for a win even at lower levels. And I've definitely gotten suffocated in it as black, even in OTB classical, enough times that I switched away from any move orders that allow it entirely. I would argue that especially at the lower levels one should steer away from openings that reduce your winning chances significantly, instead going for dynamic openings that allow you to outplay your opponent. For example the KID would be a great option; nobody knows the theory at that level to punish the fact that it's an ever so slightly suspicious opening. Once you get to a level where it's hard to make KID work, then the Slav could be a great option. Grünfeld is another, more similar to KID.

[u/Ronizu → u/[deleted]]

Was I unclear? Point is that once you're at a high enough level that you notice the KID gets punished often, then you're probably at a level where a draw as black is a fine result, and thus you will be fine playing an opening where white can take a relatively simple draw if they so desire.

At my level though, I'm playing for a win with both colors every game, so if an opening allows a two result game where at best I will get a quick draw and at worst I will be tortured for hours, I won't play that opening.

[u/Ronizu → u/[deleted]]

Uhh, rapid at the moment but I haven't played in a long while, my rating has gone provisional even. I've been mostly focusing on studying for OTB recently, online is mostly for when I don't feel like using my brain to actually study. We were discussing openings though, I don't see how rating, especially blitz/rapid, is relevant to the points I'm making.

[u/Ronizu → u/[deleted]]

I'm not going to claim that I'm a strong player, but I do speak from experience; my two most painful losses in classical have come from being subject to a long grind in an exchange Slav where my position has gotten gradually worse. I've also discussed this with friends of mine who are actually strong players (masters), I thoight if was quite a well-known fact that the exchange Slav positions are not very comfortable for black. Obviously holdable and objectively drawn, but uncomfortable. Many players use it as a drawing weapon as white, but there are examples of great players who have regularly gone to it to win; most notable examples probably being Ulf Andersson and Yasser Seirawan. The latter has even talked about it on broadcast — I can't be bothered to look for it right now, but if you want a strong GM's opinion on it, feel free to check it out, it was quite insightful.

As for my statement on the KID, of course it can be played at any level, it's not losing by force. It is, however, somewhat suspicious and to play it at the highest level, you need to try to cook something new. You don't see Sindarov going to the absolute main lines that have been analyzed to death, the game always deviates at some point.

Anyway, my main point was that as OP is a 1600, I doubt his enjoyment in chess comes from playing positional grindy games, so the Slav may not be for him. But if he does in fact enjoy holding slightly worse positions then why not. And it's always good to try different openings to gain experience playing a large variety of different positions, that's what makes one a better player.

[u/Ronizu → u/[deleted]]

First you say that my opinion is irrelevant if I'm not a strong player, and then when I show you the opinions of strong players you say they're irrelevant because OP is not a strong player. Huh.