Expert: Len Molden - 5/7/2011

Question
Hey Len,
I've built up a nice repetoir against e4 (french) and d4 (Benko Gambit). However, I can't find a solid, yet slightly unusual opening against c4 and Nf3, to throw the opponent off the mainline. I am not rated too high, so anything that isn't top 3 or so will do. Generally speaking, I do not like gambits (Save for Benko and Queen's, so i would like it if it did not lose material for position.
Any help is appreciated.

Answer
Hi Teranzo,

I too faced this issue for a long time and tried a variety of setups.  What finally brought me good results were the following defenses:

English Opening
===============

1.c4 e5
2.Nc3 d6
3.g3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.Nf3 f5
6.d3 Nge7
7.0-0 0-0
  
Black will attack on the kingside, while White will march forward on the queenside.  Here's a database to help you with this: http://www.365chess.com/opening.php?m=3&n=112&ms=c4.e5&ns=15.112

Against Nf3, here's how to face it:

1.1.Nf3 Nc6
2.g3 e5...and the position will transpose to the above line.

If White plays 2.d4 instead, then:

1.Nf3 Nc6
2.d4 d5
3.c4 Bg4 and we've reached a Chigorin Queen's Gambit which is a good defense against the Queen's Gambit: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=d07

Here's two chess books I highly recommend:

http://www.chessmastery.com/englishasblack.html

Regards,

Len