As to 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 there's 3...Bg4 (the Portugese variation), I don't know how it's doing theoretically, but it's certainly dynamic. And what's the problem with 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Be2? Isn't that just too passive by white? The simple 4...Nxd5 ought to be okay. [/quote]


I don't think White's Bb5+ followed by Be2 idea is much worry for Black.  It could actually be kind of mouth watering.  Here is just a sample line:

1. e4 d5 
2. exd5 Nf6
3. Bb5+ Bd7 
4. Be2 e6 
5. dxe6 Bxe6 
6. d4 c5 
7. Nf3 

or

(7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Bxd1 Bxc5 9. Nf3 Nc6 
10. O-O h6 11. Nc3 O-O-O 12. Be2 Rhe8 
13. Bf4 g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. Rfd1 f5 
16. Na4 Bf8 17. h3 g4 18.Nd2 Nd4 
19. Bd3 Nxg3 20. fxg3 gxh3 21. gxh3 Bd6 
22. Kf2 Rg8 23. Rg1 Bd7 significant advantage)

7... Nc6 
8. Bg5 Be7 
9. O-O Qb6 
10. Nbd2 cxd4 
11. Nb3 O-O 
12. Nfxd4 Rad8 
13. c3 Nxd4 
14. cxd4 Bxb3 
15. axb3 Rxd4 
16. Qc1 Nd5 
17. Bxe7 Nxe7 
18. Bc4 Rfd8 with the idea of Nd5, and then Nb4 or Nf4.
when Black is comfortable.

MNB mentions Quote:


That is certainly true but I thought current theory has White as being better after 6.g3.  Is this not true?

I think the biggest problem with trying to play the Portugese is 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 when 3...Bg4 has shown to be unsatisfactory after 4.Bb5+.   

Is there anybody who has a defense where there always get the type of position they want?  Sometimes you just have to be patient and usually if your playing well you'll have some chances  (and I'm talking to myself as much as to everyone else!).

If you get to 1.e4 d5 2.xd5 Nf6 3. c4 why not play c6? Accepting the gambit, tempting for someone unfamiliar with it, leaves black with =+ while d4 transposes to the Panov-Bot. Not too active for black, but as all ICQ positions, definitely unbalanced and with scope for black to play for a win. The problem is after 3.d4 White leaves brings you back to Qx lines or 3... Bg4, when after Bb5+ I don't think black has suffiecient compensation for the pawn.

I'm not sure, the 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 (everything else is just fine for black) 2...Nf6 lines are rather dynamic (the only question is whether they are correct, which I just don't know). 2...Qxd5 is the move that often leads to Caro-Kann type positions and probably wouldn't be your sort of thing. 

As to 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 there's 3...Bg4 (the Portugese variation), I don't know how it's doing theoretically, but it's certainly dynamic. And what's the problem with 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Be2? Isn't that just too passive by white? The simple 4...Nxd5 ought to be okay.

I am continuing my previous topic, but in this one I will stick to the center counter (CC hereafter).
So, as I said in the other topic, I am looking for a new opening vs e4, and due to time constraints, this won't be the Najdorf!!!
I am mainly looking for an "active" defence if such a thing does exist. I do not consider myself a maverick attacker, but I love dynamic and unbalanced positions, and my style is more "positionnal active", such as, for instance, Milov...I wonder if the Scandi fits me...
so I am wondering what kind of players play the CC...I know there are maverick attackers amongst them, but it also seems that the CC link with the caro Kann attracts more positionnal players... 
If so, what lines should I play??? for instance, the Icelandic looks nice, but after thing like 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Be2, the play is not that dynamic...neither after 3.d4...and in the Qa5 mainline it seems that a few line are really boring...am I wrong???
Once again, any help greatly appreciated!!!