The Dark Knight System 1...Nc6

How does this system play out against the London?

He must've been watching Batman.

James  could you help me when white plays this.

I see that turning into some sort of King's Indian after 3...Nce7 4. c4 with d6 g6 and Bg7 coming. 4. d6 cxd6 5. Qxd6 Nc6 is hardly something to be proud of. 

Lightning,

The idea after 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 is to play 3...Nce7 and 4...Ng6.  The Bf8 gets to develop actively to c5 or b4.  In my opinion, 4.c4 is a terrible move, but it is very often played.  If you want all the details, see the book.

-James

And after this? I assume just Ng6 or Nc6 correct?

Occasionally in blitz my opponents play 4.d6?!, but it is not good, either.  Either 4...Nc6 or 4...Ng6 is fine, but I have found that 4...Ng6 works a little better, because after 5.dxc7 Qxc7 the queen has more freedom.  This line is also covered in the book.  It is a Sicilain pawn structure, but black has extra development, and is at least equal.  Moving the same d-pawn four times is not likely to produce a good position for white!

Thanks for reply, I am working my way through the book, as I wish to blog about it, as a review (from a club level players perspective).  I'm about 2 chapters in, and really enjoy the reading so far.  Not all just variations, but key positions, and the ideas of the openings.  It is a very different opening scheme than what I am used to, so I do find it hard to follow the ideas and remember the lines. Working with it in Chess Position Trainer though :)

Do you find it more often that the opponents will play "ignore" or "refute" mode vs Nc6?  Have skimmed through the other chapters but didn't see .. is it covered in the book where white plays a KIA setup?  Perhaps something starting with Nf3,d3,g3,bg2? 

Most of my strong opponents play 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 or 1.d4 Nc6 2.Nf3, which I suppose is "ignore" mode.  They don't want to get drawn into any complications, and assume (correctly) that I will be better prepared than them.  Class players are more likely to let me play 2...e5, because I don't think they understand what I'm doing.  Very few players are silly enough to go into "refute" mode, though that may have something to do with my rating--I used to run into that attitude occasionally, which can only be to black's benefit since there is nothing resembling a refutation.  White needs to know a fair amount to get any advantage at all.

The KIA is covered in one of the last chapters (8, I think). 

Thanks! This is what I have been seeig also, rarely will they be brave to push d5 for example and try more "solid" lines Nf3, e3/d3 etc ..  can't wait to get through the book fully, and then again some more.  Have been looking for a "weapon" type line, and enjoy the off beat lines (Grob even), but this just seems like were getting back to solid lines that I enjoy. 

when anybody says something about the advantage of shock value, loss of time for opponent or good if you dont like theory, it is 99 times out of  a 100 a crap opening.

But that's not what this is about. True there is shock value here, but all the lines are very much playable. Grob/Bassman is shock value. 

1...Nc6 is not as popular as many other opening moves, but anyone who is shocked by a move that develops and controls the center is living in some kind of alternate chess reality. 

All my research and experience indicate that 1...Nc6 (at least as recommended in The Dark Knight System) is as playable as established openings like the Caro-Kann, French, or Modern, and better than openings that are probably considered less off-beat, like Alekhine's, Pirc, or Scandinavian.

The fact that my opponents often don't know what they're doing is not the main idea--it's just a bonus.

The reversed Van Geet doesn't look all that fun.  1.e4,Nc6 2.d4,e5 3.d5,Ne7 4.Nf3,Ng6 and white being up a tempo has time for 5.h4! 

That is a good way for white to play, but 5...h5 is healthy enough for black.  Everything is covered in the book. 

I'm not claiming it's a refutation but as black it looks hard to handle.  The e4 pawn screams to be undermined and attacked but it doesn't look like there's a viable route to that.  Though I have found a great game where black wins with this system, should give some hope and inspiration:

The Benjamin game is in my book--white's 8.a3 is not best, but the position reached is still fairly typical. 

White's idea of 5.h4! is good--there is no question that black would prefer it were not played--but ultimately it's just another variation.  Black should know it well in order to avoid difficulties, but white will need to work hard to demonstrate any advantage.

I, as black, play the Nimzovitsch defense a lot as follows 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 bf5 4.b5. This is called an advanced scandinavian, I read somewhere. My problem is that I don't really know what the best answer is here. I usually answer a bit insecure with 4. ...f6. What would you recommend?

I discuss and recommend 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5, which is what I know about and I feel is best.  Mainly what I know about 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 is that 3.Nc3 causes a lot of problems for black.  I don't know where to get good information about 2...d5 besides database and engine.

4.b5 is a tricky move there. I would edit your post to write what you actually mean.

Regarding the general area of "crappy openings", they're not as crappy as you probably think (though they are not best), and if you're well-prepared with master games and engine ideas, I say go for it.