GM's Most played defense against d4

What's GM's most played defense against d4 actually?

(and what's your favorite)?

my fav is the nimzo

In the last few years the Slav has probably become the most played defence, especially the Chebanenko variation with 4.a6. I guess the Kings Indian may be the next most popular choice.

Nimzo and QGD are most often played between GMs

According to the databases,

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 occurs in just over 1 in 4 games. Yes, that can transpose to other QGD lines, but it starts out as a Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 occurs about 1 in 20 games

1.d4 Nf6 c4 e6 occurs in more than 1/3 of all GM games, with Black opting for the Nimzo Indian or QID in the great majority of games. The QID is more popular than the Nimzo right now. That of course is because white tends to avoid it!

Id say the Nimzo or modern

Don’t necropost. THis post is literally 12 years old

d4 d5 but, in my opinion, it's pretty boring

I feel the strength of 1...d5 is that if white doesn't play 2c4, black is often better set-up to play an early c5. Eg against the London. As a Jobava player as white, on the other side of the board, I like 1d4 d5 2Nc3 c5. Not too common a move.

I take the view if white plays one of the 1d4 wuss-like variation — common at club level — standing toe-to-toe with 1...d5, black's play is classical and principled. If white comes out and fights like a man with 2c4, so be it. As a QGA player my argument shifts —slightly — more to surprise value since, the QGA is not that common.

#1

a : "actually" to say curently just watch 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2004 https://youtu.be/fOf1tInefEI?list=PLAwlxGCJB4Nchegkxq-qun7oMFi5tJutB FIDE Chess Olympiad: So, Leko, Pragg, Nodirbek, Vaishali & More Feature | Rd 1

b : Imo,

1 : 1) d4 d5 2) c4 e6 3) Nc3 Nf6 4) Nf3 e6 seems to be dreaded so to avoid it 1) d4 d5 2) c4 e6 3) cxd5 that in theory should be played often then there is Tarrasch or Semi-Tarrasch Defense which are quite played. Nakamura like to play 1) d4 d5 2) c4 c5 then the Ragozine Defense seems to be lliked by GMs.

2 : 1) d4 Nf6 2) c4 e6 3) Nc3 Bb4 or 3) Nf3 b6 (more rarely 3...Bb4+)

3 : 1) d4 Nf6 2) c4 g6 3) Nc3 d5 with notably Maxime Vachier-Lagrave who often plays it.

Opinions and feelings have nothing to do with this. This is a purely factual question that can be researched. 

Just do the research. There’s no rule that states you have to play the most popular GM openings, but it’s good to know what they are and why.