What is your best response to 1. d4?

[chessbook]

I seem to be weak on queens openings. I lose most of my games that start with 1.d4, they just become so closed and I get squeezed on the king side until i can’t move my pieces. Especially the bishops.

[alphachess]

This will depend mostly on your play type. Whether you like attacking or just passively defending. But for me, i work best with responding with 1….d5. What i do nowadays, i don’t castle early. And if possible, exchange the black bishop early. I have always been messed up by the black bishop that sticks around on my kingside.

Also, since it d4 leads to mostly closed games, try as much as possible to keep your knights. They are good for closed games.

[Author]

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