What is a unique, but strong D4 counter-attack as black. I have been looking into the Old Benoni Defense, but I can't tell if it is worth investing my time to learn.
I looked into the lines and there seems to be as much theory here as the Ruy Lopez, but if it is good then ill invest time into it. That is why I am looking for another opening to experiment with.
D4 counter attacks
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May 1, 2021
0
#3
Also the Budapest Gambit. It's better than the direct Englund Gambit 1...e5!? 
May 1, 2021
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#4
I’ve had 60% success with the Englund/Charlick. I don’t mind being a pawn down for an open game with tactical opportunities from both sides. I just like the fact that you take away book theory from white alone.
For rapid, I have been studying the Nimzo; it’s very flexible and imbalance. The downside is you have to be ready to part from your bishop pair if need be. Also, if the game opens up it favours white despite the Nimzo being the highest winning percentage of all blacks defensive choices.
May 1, 2021
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#5
Budapest gambit! I used it from 1700-2100. Then I dropped it for what many would say an equally bad opening (cough @fizzyband cough), the czech Benoni. But it’s way too positional and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
@optimissed by unique I mean opening that are not the typical responses ... something that can catch the opponent off Gaurd
May 2, 2021
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#7
Zanoodle wrote:
@optimissed by unique I mean opening that are not the typical responses ... something that can catch the opponent off Gaurd
That is completely the wrong approach to chess. You should be playing to get good positions. If you learn how to maintain an advantage, how to win the won game, you will get many wins.
One trick ponies that are unsound might get you a win here or there, but for every one of them, you will get 5 cases of a terrible position and lose most of them.
Not worth the trade off.
Problem with the old Benoni from your first post is that the Benoni is not very good if White has not played c4. This is why everybody now plays 1...Nf6 and only after 2.c4 do they play 2...c5.
Reasoning is simple. In the Benoni, Black's biggest weakness is the d6-pawn. After 1.d4 c5?! 2.d5 Nf6 3.Nc3! (No c4) d6 4.e4 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Be2 O-O 7.O-O e6 etc.
Both sides can alter move order, slight change in moves, whatever. The main point is that White will eventually play Nf3-d2-c4, and with that Knight on c4, White gets a pretty big advantage.
Compare this to the Czech Benoni, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 Be7, White has no open c4 square for a Knight to harass d6.
There are plenty of SOUND defenses to d4, and some have numerous variations within that no White player at the Amateur level will know all of them:
QGD - 3...Be7, Lasker, Tartakower, Orthodox
Slav - 4...dxc4, Semi-Slav, Triangle Defense
QGA
Nimzo - 4.e3 you have 4...c5, 4...b6, 4...O-O, with 4.Qc2 you have 4...c5, 4...d5, 4...O-O, with 3.Nf3 you have the Queen's Indian, Bogo-Indian, Modern Benoni, or QGD
King's Indian - Against the Classical you have 7...exd4, 7...Na6, 7...Nc6. Against Saemisch you have 6...c5, 6...e5, 6...Nc6, 6...c6, etc.
Grunfeld - Ask others for advice on this opening
Modern or Czech Benoni
Dutch - Classical/Stonewall, Leningrad
With all of these sound responses, there is no way your opponent knows all of these. With sound lines, one slip-up by the opponent can often lead to a big advantage for you.
One trick ponies are just that. Most already know the Budapest trap. Many know the problems with the old Benoni and will play for Nc4 and a4 (to prevent b5 and keep the outpost for the knight). These disaster lines will lead to just that, disaster!
May 2, 2021
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#8
The Budapest isn’t a one trick pony if you don’t play for the tricks. White can’t even get the bishop pair in Karpov’s Nd2 line.
May 2, 2021
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#9
Case in point!
Played a sound defense and White got destroyed! Not because of any tricks and 1.d4 is not refuted.
White simply had no clue what he was doing!
Even Black's (my) responses probably were not theoretically best, but a sound basis won the game quickly!
You do not need to play for unsound tricks to win at chess!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/13697511125
May 2, 2021
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#10
Optimissed wrote:
To be fair, I don't think black had a clue either; but got lucky. I think black looked about lost before white played Bxc4.
And your refutation is? Prove it bozo!
There is nothing to prove. Equal after ...exd4 and better for Black from Qf3 onward!
May 2, 2021
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#11
I feel like black knew what he was doing but white had a pretty good position until he blundered his queen.
May 2, 2021
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#12
B1ZMARK wrote:
I feel like black knew what he was doing but white had a pretty good position until he blundered his queen.
Qf3 was a 1 trick pony and otherwise a terrible move. White's pieces are not coordinated. Sure, Black has work to do to convert the advantage until he allows the fork, but even if he avoids it, Black is already better. Better piece coordination if nothing else, but Black has other factors going for him as well.
Also do not forget he is a pawn down for basically nothing!
May 2, 2021
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#13
Probably true- whites queen is pretty exposed. I don’t play chigorin so I wouldn’t know the depths of the position.
May 2, 2021
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#14
Optimissed wrote:
Mind you, 3. Nc3 is pretty poor for white and always gives black a good game. I could be wrong. I'd say that after d4-d5, black has to play Na5. But I've often won similar games.
If the pawn is not grabbed yet at c4 at the time of d5, there are cases where going to e5 works, especially if e3 or e4 is ready played. White usually gets the pawn back anyway, and sometimes Black can play Nc6-e5-d3+ and gain the Bishop pair as White gets his pawn back. In other lines with d5, Black has ...Na5 and can actually hold the pawn. So every case of d5 depends on the exact position.
May 2, 2021
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#15
Optimissed wrote:
Yes, of course, but unless white has gone horribly wrong, Bxc4 followed by Qa4+ recovers the pawn and white should have the lead in development and more space. I really don't like 3. Nc3 though, for white. It effectively wastes a tempo at a crucial stage. I always play 3.Nf3, although 3. e3 is also good, but I don't know the theory. 3.e4 obviously too but same again although I know just enough for the black side of 3. e4. However, playing 3. Nf3 is sufficient for white to keep an edge, except maybe if black is an expert on the Noteboom Slav and equalises.
Against 3.Nf3 I prefer the 3...a6 line.
4.e3 Bg4 (If 5.Bxc4, then 5...e6 and any h3 push is answered by ...Bh5, not ...Bxf3. Nc3 should be answered by ...Nc6 and the Bishop usually goes to d6, playing for e5. Castling for Black is of course kingside in this line.)
4.e4 b5
Against 3.e3 I play 3...e5
Against 3.e4, I play 3...Nc6
@ThrillerFan I wasn’t trying to say a one trick pony and if I worded it that way my bad. I just don’t want to play the common response as I like learning off beat lines that don’t see much play as I find them a lot of fun. These lines I have found lead to rather odd positions that keep the game unique and interesting :) thank you for the advise, I’ll look into the openings u recommend... also what everyone one else did.
May 3, 2021
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#18
Optimissed wrote:
Against 3. e4 I have been playing 3. ...Nf6. Perhaps I should have a look at 3. ...Nc6.
So, 1. d4 ...d5 2. c4 ...dc 3. Nf3 ...a6!? 4. e3 ...Bg4 5. Bxc4 would be our game. White keeps it completely simple and awaits developments. White will probably castle next. Are you intending ...e5 or ...c5?
In the line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6, Black's follow-up moves are reactionary, mainly to avoid certain minor threats by White with either his Knights or Central pawns.
6.h3 (most common move) is answered by 6...Bh5
6.Nc3 is answered by 6...Nc6.
6.O-O is answered by 6...Nf6
More often than not, all 3 are played in some order, like 6.O-O Nf6 7.h3 Bh5 8.Nc3 Nc6.
Black's Bishop will usually go to d6. White will usually need to retreat Bc4-e2 at some point due to problems with the pin (especially d4).
I've been looking at the Chigorin setup recently.
1d4 d5
2c4 (or Nf3) Nc6
Seems to be fine well up to GM level and above, while letting black call the tune.
May 3, 2021
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#20
Ziggy_Zugzwang wrote:
I've been looking at the Chigorin setup recently.
1d4 d5
2c4 (or Nf3) Nc6
Seems to be fine well up to GM level and above, while letting black call the tune.
I am not a huge fan of the pure Chigorin because of 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.cxd5!
This line is completely avoided in the QGA. In lines with ...Nc6, like 3.e4 Nc6, there are a few limited lines that overlap with the Chigorin, but not the ones that bring great concern to Black.