Well, 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Qc2 Nf6 often doesn't become a Closed Catalan, though it certainly could.

The move-order 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.c4 (planning Nh3) allows 4...Bb4+!? on which there is a very thought provoking article in Secrets of Opening Surprises no. 9 by Glek. In my opinion this is much more than a normal SOS article. If this option doesn't bother White, then 4.c4 is an excellent weapon against the Stonewall. However, White must also decide how to handle 4...c6, as 5.Nh3 is too early. 5.Nd2 and 5.Qc2 probably are best but not necessarily ideal moves in a Nh3 Stonewall.

In a way 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Nc3 is an excellent anti-Stonewall weapon as 4...d5?! 5.Bf4 is very difficult for Black. On the other hand this probably is a rather harmless system after Black's best move 4...Bb4. In my database White scores only 45% in 1187 games. Statistically 5.Qb3 looks best (the only move to score over 50%). A mainline seems to run 5...a5 6.g3 b6 7.Bg2 Bb7 8.O-O O-O when Black still scores well above 50% but with some notable names (Smyslov, Sakaev, Malaniuk, Yudashin, Gurevich etc.) on White's side.

Another challenge if you go for the d4, c4, Nf3, Nc3 set-up is the move-order 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 when White must go for the Noteboom (4.Nf3 dxc4), the Marshall (4.e4!?) or allow a transposition to the Stonewall with 4.g3 f5 or 4.e3 Bd6 5.Nf3 f5.

A possibly underestimated option is 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.c4 c6 6.Bf4!?. White scores well in the 45 games I find in my database. It probably doesn't offer anything against a well prepared Black but could confuse a lot of those lazy souls (me included!) who enjoy the Modern ...Bd6 Stonewall.

Antillian wrote on 05/11/09 at 11:04:57:


Yes...this is a possibility. Otherwise I think MNb:s post on the Nh3 system is interesting. I will probably go for the Nh3-system or possibly try J. Cox suggestion despite the fact that I am a bit suspicious about it. But  the queenside play mentioned by thibdb13 has to be studied...interesting as it is.

The Stonewall problem still feels unsolved. But I could be a bit closer.

What about the b3 system ? Anyone playing or played it ?

Bogojump wrote on 05/11/09 at 10:11:26:

The idea of the Nh3-system is to transfer it via f4 to d3, which is perfectly possible after ...Be7. The manoeuvre is not a loss of tempo compared to Ng1-f3-e1-d3.

Bogojump wrote on 05/11/09 at 10:11:26:


My preference is the Rubinstein (2.c4, 3.Nc3, 4.e3), castling queenside and go for Black's king. But I suppose that does not fit in your Anti-Dutch repertoire.
If you really don't have a clue, play the king's fianchetto with Nf3, Nc3, Bg5. Be happy if you manage to exchange the dark-squared bishops. Then decide to play either a pawnstorm on the queen's wing with c4-c5 or to exchange on d5. After ...cxd5 invade via the c-file and after ...exd5 play the minority attack. Let Black worry about counterplay.

You may want to get a hold of Avrukh's GM Repertoire 2 which will be due out in a month or two.