Starting moves from white are 1. c4 and 2. g3
I wonder what you would play there. I am playing some correspondence games and tried out different things, but am not really satisfied with anything. I feel like there is no time as black to castle queenside and h- or f-pawn attacks do not really lead anywhere. This structure as white is pretty solid for white and I want to destroy it somehow as black.
I know about e5 and d6 and exchange the "reversed dragon bishop" - but that is about it and I don't really have anything to keep that attack going. Is there a way to get into tactics in this opening?
What I like to play against this is 1..e5 2..c6 and usually 3..d5
Then normal development and 0-0
@EwoudUtrecht sounds very boring and unspectacular to me, it takes away the natural square for the knight. I don't think c6 is so great :/ It is certainly okay... but what plans then... it's such a dry position...
Any more recommendations?
I tried the Yugoslav reversed, but it doesn't work as black
1.c4 e5 2.g3 h5!? is the highest scoring system in both the lichess masters and regular databases (small sample size, but not nothing, either). The 2...c6 idea mentioned in post #2 is the best scoring system with a sizeable sample at master level. Finally, playing 2...d6 and 3...e5, a sort of Reversed Grand Prix, also scores well and has a clear plan: build-up in center, try to get f5-f4 in, that's all you need to know.
When I played the English, I did very well against a 1...f5 move order, but did much worse against "delayed Dutchs" where f5 came later. Some food for thought.
A22 does not appear to be a top-tier opening ...
i like e6, but if you want more bishop development, i would go c5
Not sure why you feel the need to "smash" it somehow...it seems perfectly legitimate (may even have played it myself once or twice).
@SmithyQ thanks for the delayed Dutch approach, that seems to represent my style. I will try it out. I have tried h5 in my correspondence games (currently running you can watch) - but it seems like it just loses a pawn and doesn't really do anything spectacular. I guess the f-pawn will be more effective.
The question I still have is - how to develop the kingside knight? If you delay f5, and play e5 and d6 and also f5 you already made 3 pawn moves and are much behind in development...
@MrPushwood I try to smash everything, that is just my playing style - I don't like giving white such a calm game where they can play their boring theory. The reason why I need to smash is because else I fall asleep during the game and it is very important for me to stay awake.
However, if you have a strategical approach on how to get an edge as black in c4 games I am also willing to learn that
