Most versatile/lazy openings for black

Hi all,

I'm rated 1100 with a goal of 1500. I want to learn 2-3 easy openings for black that when combined, can cover anything that white plays.

For example: Opening 1- To be used against D4 specifically or E4 specifically. Opening 2- To be used against anything else .

I play London as white so something with similar boring concepts would be helpful. I was previously using Scandinavian against E4 and Dutch for everything else but I kept losing.

Thanks!

Scandinavian is garbage. You need to figure out for yourself which best fits your style of play amongst 1...e5, French, Sicilian, and Caro-Kann.

If you want boring, 1...e5 is your answer with the Ruy Lopez answered by 3...Nf6, the Berlin.

Against 1.d4, again, there are a finite number of good responses. Some also work against 1.c4 or 1.Nf3, some don't. Outside of those 2 flank openings, you need to find another defense. For example, 1.Nc3 f5 is bad for Black after 2.e4! 1...f5 is also bad against 1.e4, 1.g4, and yes, 1.f4.

Your main options against 1.d4 are:

1...d5 - would need to know the Reti against 1.c4 or 1.Nf3 (1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 or 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 or 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5)

1...Nf6/2...g6 - The Kings Indian setup can be used against 1.c4 or 1.Nf3, but the Grunfeld can be avoided. 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4! d6 4.d4 Bg7 or 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3!

1...Nf6/2...e6 - Anti-Nimzo and Mikenas-Flohr would need to be known. 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 and now 3.Nf3 or 3.e4

1...f5 - You would need to know anti-dutch lines against 1.Nf3 and 1.c4, and against 1.d4, you'd need to know 2.Nc3, 2.e4, 2.g4, and 2.Bg5 UNLESS you do like I do and play 1...e6 and 2...f5, but then you must know the French (2.e4). Since my defense to e4 is the French, it's a non-issue for me.

modern

The Modern is too confrontational to be a lazy opening

thrillerfan gave some good information. although, I do humbly disagree with the Scandinavian being garbage. But that is not the point. I too would recommend the French. for two reasons. 1) the French is good against e4. and 2) you can play the same pawn set up against 1.d4. Against d4 the set up is the same e6, d5, and c5 but it is called the Tarrasch defense in the Queens Gambit Declined systems. that means that you have one basic opening against e4 and d4 but the middle game may go in different directions. Between the London as white, the French, and the Tarrasch you will have an opening for probably 95 % of your games. none of these openings are theoretically easy but what openings are? at your level just play. Even GMs get surprised and sometimes they even lose.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I think I might go for the French vs E4 and undecided vs D4 is there another opening that can be versatile enough to cover anything else white throws at me at my rating range?

Copy the pros. Go e5 or c5 and then you can build on that step by step.

c5 is not something you can just build step by step. If you play c5, you better know your stuff and know it well, or else you’re in for a beating. e5 is more the fashion of building something up well

You can play e6 against everything.

When playing against d4, Nf3, or c4, you will often be able to transpose into a Dutch or qgd. Since you were having bad results with the Dutch, you can play triangle semislav and try to get a noteboom or maybe a stonewall if e3 is ever played

another idea is just to play nf6, g6, bg7, and 0-0 against everything. the pro is a safe king early in the game but the con is that you will give control in the center to white.

indeed. I would often reply to such forums like this one~why don't you become a versatile player and not a lazy one instead of asking for suggestions for such Openings (that don't exist)? But today, being in a charitable mood (heh), because maybe you're more of a casual player looking to improve. First thing, since you're more or less a 1. d4 player-stick with the Scandinavian vs 1. e4 at this point (current level & experience). Sure, it's not Top-tier but then, you're not playing guys like Thriller every day and you're familiar with it. Just keep tweaking it, study and play through some games with the Opening to see the ebbs & flows of how other people play with it no matter the outcome. Focus more how they drew or lost. But just keep it casual. Eventually it will come together, especially if once in awhile you go through your past games and see where you could've played differently. On the other hand, yeah~i think you can shelf the Dutch for now and come back to it later. Totally suggest playing 1. ... Nf6, looking to transpose into a QGD type gameplay ie 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5, 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6, 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 are just some examples. I trust you will do your own due diligence to follow up. You could get into the KID & KID type gameplay but personally I think you would have to fully commit to learning the KID proper first (like the Dutch) whereas QGD/QP already have a more similar and framework whatever white throws at you, outside of 1. e4. I hope this helps.

D4? Indian game, go for a setup or delay your commitments of d5 and c5. Or you can try d5 or c5. e6 and c6 work aswell.

E4? Try Scandinavian, Pirc, Open Game, Sicillian. Caro-kann and French are also good options.

Anything else? Depends on what your opponent plays. Against English you can go for the symmetrical, Ango-Scandinavian, Reversed Sicillian, or Anglo-Indian to delay any commitments. Against f4 could be the From's Gambit, Reversed Dutch, or the Reverse Dutch Invitation (Nf6, I don't know the real name). Nf3? Could do the Quiet Game, d5, Sicillian Invitation, or Dutch Invitation.

The Caro-Slav repertoire(1.c6 2.d5) is the best way to go. The Caro-Kann is literally the reversed london if played in a boring way. Slav defence as a system can be played against anything, so try that out. I recommend you to watch two videos from gothamchess on the slav and caro-kann.
Caro-Kann:
The exchange caro can easily be played like a london, no problems
In the advance I recommend the main line(where you put the bishop out). Its a bit more complicated that botvinnik-carls(that I play), but It resembles London in the most similar way possible.
Against knight defends the pawn I recommend tartakower. Its boring, and is half-system. Its all covered in gothams video.
Slav defence can basically be played as a system(semi-slav) it looks like a london but the bishop stays inside(reversed colle)

Modern. Ofc

now that i think abt it... caro

boringest caro lines afaik:

vs exchange 

go 0-0 and do boring stuff in a middlegame

vs mainline

take and Bf5 mainline is endgamey boring

vs advance

Bf5 here too and again going for an endgame

vs fantasy

idk

vs fantasy e6 is incredibly boring)

You can learn the Winawer and Ragozin/Nimzo-Indian and that’s a fun repertoire, albeit a REALLY aggressive one, coming from an ex-Scandi/London/Dutch player.

here is one of the "exciting" caro-kann lines

bro super grandmasters play the entire game off of theory and enter a forced draw

The problem with the Caro is that whether or not it’s boring or not is pretty much entirely dictated by white.