Responding to 1.Nc3

What are some good lines? Thanks.

It kind of depends what you play against e4 and d4. Against Nc3 I personally play Nf6 that means that most often I will either enter the Vienna after e4 or the verserov (or something like that) after d4. 

Both systems are perfectly fine for black 

What I'm playing in kind of in flux since I am learning (aren't we all), but against e4 I am responding with e5 and going into, for example, Ruy Lopez Breyer.

I typically respond to 1.d4 with ...Nf6 going into Gruenfeld, or ...d5 going into Slav or Semi-Slav.

i like d5 with the main idea that 2 e4 dxe4 Nxe4 Bf5 is like a caro without d4/c6 (which should ultimately favor black), and 2 d4 doesnt bother me.

white has a few tricks (like 4 Qf3, or playing d3 instead of d4 to try to blunt the bishop) but i think that they are just more original than good, and black should achieve a good position without too much trouble with a bit of preparation.

Yes, depends what you play. As a French player I play 1...e6 and aim to transpose, on the rationale that if white tries to avoid the transposition by not playing e4 then black can go into a Stonewall-Dutch structure with the Nc3 misplaced.

I am told by a player who plays 1.Nc3 as white that 1.Nc3 d5 2. e4 d4 is meant to be good for black in theory, but he doesn't mind that because white is in his own territory and black is very unlikely to know what he/she is doing, so in practice it's usually fine for white.

I'd probs just play ..c5, I mean what does white have to do with the knight on c3, other than play some sicilian setup? g3 ideas probs aren't much good now that white has thrown away any chance of pressuring the centre with the c pawn.

or how about just responding with 1...e4?

1. ...e7-e4 is indeed the strongest response.

Yes it is, but illegal. You passsed my test.

How about 1...e5?

e5 is alright, specially if you meet e4 with e5 as well so you don't get transposed off your repertoire.

If you are an 1 e4 e5 player, the most accurate answer to 1 Nc3 is in fact 1...Nf6! and 2 e4 e5. 1...e5 gives White the tricky extra option of 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4!? ed 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Bg5!?

I typically respond to e4 with e5, if that is what you mean.

+1

I'd advise against 1.Nc3 d5 2.d4 c5?! because 3.e4 is possible, steering for a reversed Albin Countergambit (with an extra tempo) if Black takes on e4 and White is getting an active, open game if Black does not take on e4.  2...c5 is just too aggressive for Black at that point.

1.Nc3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 is more solid.

Now White could try 3.e4 if he wants to go into a BDG but Black can play the irritating 3...Nxe4.  It's more likely White will play 3.Bg5, the Veresov Opening, but there are several legit moves Black can play here.

If Black wants to try to do something special to take advantage of White's move order, he can try: 1.Nc3 d5 2.d4 Bf5!? Because White's c-pawn is blocked there is no Qb3 to try to exploit this early bishop move.  3.f3 is the most logical move, trying to play in the center, where 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 is again a Veresov, but White does not have the option of playing 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 Bf5 4.Bxf6 (which is his best move in that position IMO)

You should also be aware of 1.Nc3 d5 2.e4.

I suggest 2...dxe4 3.Nxe4 Nd7! which equalizes quickly.  Black is playing in Caro-Kann style but he does not have ...c6 in.  This allows him (after ..Ngf6 challenging the White knight) to play with a Qside fianchetto, and ideally, get in ...c5 in one move.

Personally I'd have no problem against the Albin on the other side, I don't think tempo differences between colors are comparable.  I think the overall Albin structures are bad in general, but what do I know.

Whenever I play 1...d5(which is rare), I always play lines with ...c5 played ASAP, I would play the same way against 1.Nc3.  I never play against it though...and thus have never put much time into looking at it.  Maybe I should play it with white a bit and solidify my response as black, getting ambushed OTB is always a bad way to start a game if you're not prepared.