Hedgehog Players...Help with the Hedgehog

Hi All, 

I'm trying to make the hedgehog my go-to system in my b-line toward expert (there's no persuading me from it. I like the hedgehog). I want to answer 1.d4 and 1.c4 with it, and transpose to it as much as possible without missing the chance to seize an advantage. MY question is...is there any  ways white can sidestep, discourage or undermine the hedgehog in the first few moves, in a harmful way? Does white HAVE to play e4 and c4 for the hedgehog to be useful? I have Suba's book, and both volumes of Shipovs, but only for postmortem correction and analysis (I'm a tactile learner)

Thanks

I f you dont want to memorize legitimate openings vs. the English and Queen's pawn games you'll have issues becoming a master.

Legitimate Openings like what? How is the Hedgehog not a legitimate opening?

Being one that has only played the Hedgehog a handful of times (typically against the English), I can't say I know everything about the Hedgehog, but I don't think it would be very effective against many of White's "Systems", like the Colle, London, Torre, etc.  You probably have better options for that.  Against mainstream lines, I can't see why the Hedgehog wouldn't work.

Also, if you like hedgehog structures, I would suggest the Kan Sicilian against 1.e4.  Often leads to a hedgehog type of position.  Actually, I think there was a book by Everyman in 2008 or so, something like "Play the Sicilian Kan", or something similar to that (NOT the Emms book from 2003 or so) that based on a review I read, the lines he suggests for Black are the hedgehog type lines rather than the erratic h5 lines.

Hedgehog might also not be that effective against certain flank openings, like the Orangutan or King's Indian Attack.

Thanks fellow NC player. And Congrats on breaking 2100!

I've just read the first volume of Shipov's book. It's easily the best opening book I've ever read. I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm going to look at volume two as well, even though from a personal repertoire point of view it's not really relevant to me.

As he points out though (and is well known) the Hedgehog can only occur if both sides are willing, so you can't make it your exclusive Black defence.

But just read the book, man :)

Well, of course both sides must cooperate.  If White starts 1.d4, for instance, and answers your eventual c5 with d5 (whether this happens immediate (1...c5 2.d5) or later on, you are pretty much outside of hedgehog territory as by definition, the hedgehog involves Black's c-pawn traded for White's d-pawn, with all of Black's remaining central and queenside pawns reside on the 6th rank.

Against 1.d4, I thinkg it is possible to use the Queens-Indian or the Ninzo-India defenses structures. I don't think it has any dificults to be used against the London System, because you can still use the options above.