HgMan wrote on 08/23/08 at 22:30:41:


I knew this was coming. It sounds pretty much the same as

smrex13 wrote on 08/20/08 at 01:03:55:


imo. Don't you agree?

smrex13 wrote on 08/20/08 at 01:03:55:


You might combine the Nimzo-Indian with the Semi-Tarrasch: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5. After 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Black has the typical Grünfeld structure: White dominates the centre, Black has the pawn majority on the queenside. After 6.e3 Black plays ...cxd4 at the right moment (not immediately) and gets a relatively good version of the IQP-variations.
You should stay away from the Leningrad though. It is not bad at all, but in many positions White has the better structure and Black has to compensate with active play.

Well, to tell you the truth I'm not so sure about a structural advantage 

I guess that more to the point would be to say that it has a dynamism for both sides and I just happen to like the black structure more but maybe it's just a matter of taste.. I only have the Pedersen book - The Dutch for the attacking player - which is a little dated and I don't know what cox says about it.. Stonewall Dutch is busted in my opinion.. Main Line Leningrad is something I would love to have in every single black game of mine.. Maybe a stronger player than myself - i am 1930 - would be more appropriate to comment on the structures of the leningrad and you would be much better to hear him/her instead of me 

Leningrad?

The Noteboom!!   

-- Two queenside passers in the ending.
   
-- 1..d5, 2..e6, 3..c6 vs. almost everything.

-- If 4.e4, you get to win a pawn and then defend.

-- vs. early e3, a chance to play the Semi-Slav.

Some examples of 1.d4 openings where Black plays for a better pawn structure:

Nimzo-Indian, for example the Samisch variation, Rubinstein variation and to a lesser extent the 4...c5 Classical Variation. 

Bogo-Indian main lines, which give White a space advantage, but Black's chances in the late middlegame can be quite good if White does not play the best strategic moves.

Definitely the 4...dc4 Slav (after 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3), especially since in order to regain the pawn White is compelled to play 5.a4, weakening the b4-square.

The Benko Gambit is a particularly good opening for long-term compensation, especially the endgames are very pleasant for Black if White has committed an inaccuracy earlier.

The Czech Benoni is a reasonable choice also, since White players can overextend if they are careless - particularly in the Bd3, Nf3, h3 and g4 lines. However, it is somewhat difficult to generate counterplay in the 6.g3 variations.

The Anti-Moscow variation, both after 6.Bf6 and 6.Bh4, give Black good long-term chances, the former line because of his two bishops and the latter variation because Black is a pawn up. However, such complicated lines will not be to everyone's taste. 

The Meran Slav (6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5) is another variation of the Slav where Black can often obtain a slightly better pawn structure after getting in the pawn break ...c5. 

I would say that the Benko Gambit is the best opening for obtaining long-term chances against 1.d4 if you are not perturbed by being a pawn down on move 4, and the next best choice is the Nimzo/Bogo if you are a positional player and the Slav if you have more of a tactical, attacking style.

Thanks for the answers.  I hadn't really thought about the Grunfeld because I don't like the few middlegame positions that I've studied. But I'll give it a closer look.

The Nimzo/QID seems like an option, especially with the doubled pawns in the Nimzo.  I do like the French vs. 1.e4, but the Tarrasch scares me a bit.

I'll keep investigating...

Scott

smrex13 wrote on 08/20/08 at 01:03:55:


It's a big generalization, but in many lines the Gruenfeld offers prospects of a "long term structural advantage."  At least, the ending is often Black's friend.