Queen's Gambit Declined
Use ...d5 and ...e6 to hold the center, then solve the c8 bishop and free the game with ...c5 or ...e5.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
Slav Defense
Support d5 with ...c6 while keeping the light bishop free and learn when ...dxc4, ...Bf5 and ...e6 belong.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
Queen's Gambit Accepted
Take c4 temporarily, surrender central occupation and use fast development plus ...c5/...e5 to challenge White's center.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Pin Nc3 with ...Bb4, fight e4 and learn the tradeoff between bishop pair and damaged White structure.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
Queen's Indian Defense
Use ...b6-Bb7 to restrain e4 and play against White's center from the flank.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6
King's Indian Defense
Allow White a broad center, then hit it with ...e5 or ...c5 and generate dynamic kingside or central counterplay.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
Grünfeld Defense
Play ...d5 against White's center early, surrender central pawns if necessary, and attack the resulting pawn mass with pieces.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
Dutch Defense
Use ...f5 to control e4 and create kingside imbalance while accepting weaknesses around e6/e5 and the king.
1.d4 f5
Modern Benoni
Accept less space after d5, then counterattack with ...b5 and ...f5 while targeting White's large center.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6
Benko Gambit
Offer the b-pawn for long-term a- and b-file pressure and learn positional compensation instead of short-term tricks.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5