d4 d5 c4 Nf6 is bad

Sometimes I play 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 as black simply because I forget momentarily that it's subpar. It's an easy inaccuracy to make if you're not paying full attention or playing a fast time control.

I play 2 ... Nf6 almost every game as black, usually I can get white to over extend, similar to alekhines defense.

Arent they going to read my post? The mainline in the marshall defense goes with cxd5 and c6, not Nxd5, after which White usually replies Nc3 as dxc6 Nxc6 gives good compensation for the pawn.

@RandomBean, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 c6, 4. Nc3 cxd5 would transpose to an exchange slav, where white may stand a tiny bit better, but it's nothing special and probably not what most people want when playing against the Marshall Defense. 4. dxc6 looks like a must if you want to prove anything against this opening. Plus, I doubt black has enough compensation for the pawn, maybe some, but definitely not enough.

@ClackYourBones

dxc6 looks like a greedy pawn grab that any master would decline. If it wasnt then the mainline would be dxc6 but it is actually Nf3 (Nc3 is also good)

After dxc6 Nxc6 black already has a huge lead in development, he is attacking the d4 pawn and the computer suggests to give back the pawn, allowing Bxg4. Which would give a playable position even to FMs.

Stockfish preffers e5 breakign in the center after which White's pawn is invisible Black will get some pressure after Qxd1+ Kxd1 Ng4 Ke1 and Bc5 making white play e3 blocking his bishop and gaining the pawn on e5.

c6 is totally sound, remembers me of the Scandinavian gambit which we all know equalizes completely if we accept it (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.dxc6 and Black is equal already, better is to transpose into a Pannov with d4.)

@RandomBean

I still have to disagree. The difference between the Scandinavian gambit and this one is that in the Scandinavian gambit, white has the weak d4 square while in this gambit white has no clear weaknesses. After Nxc6 Nf3 Bg4 e3, it looks like white has a solid position, for example, after e5, Be2 looks like a good enough move, and I like white's extra pawn even if it will be isolated later.

#13

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5 c6 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.Nf3 e5 6.e3 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.exd4! O-O 11.Nc3! Re8+ 12.Be2 Bg4 13.f3 Bf5 14.O-O +/-

Where is the compensation?

Now you guys are getting exciting. I believe the disk I had from Roman Forum agrees that the best way to handle the gambit is to just offer the exchange slav. And if black doesn't accept he gets either awkard development or he loses compensation for the pawn when white can take it on his terms.

I can tell you where the compensation lies, stractic, but we would have to put ratings back into the debate.:-)

i dont care for ratings, give a line. Im open to new ideas.