Tournament game on Monday- I need to win

@Reti-Gambit I think I will play white after all. You say something sharp for white? The game is tomorrow... Should I stick with the London System as usual, or even some d4 opening with c4 added?

i wouldnt change the opening play what u play
im reti-gambit so dont wonder

I think the smyslov defense is right for you. 3. ... g6 and white to have active play must sacrifice a pawn. I think your opponent does not know the theory. The smyslov defense is dangerous but it is not very popular.

like i said with retibot lo masii ur right too but hes white

@massimilianoferri I think the Cozio Defense may be safer for black and even more obscure. I do think I am playing white in the game tomorrow but for future games against him I will probably go into the Ruy Lopez.

For tomorrow I'm wondering if I should just play London System and attack him on the kingside or play 1.d4 and then the move c4 either on move two or later.

d4 c4

play london uve got experience i it atatck is the right strategy for a win so just advantages

@Reti-Gambit @SirDillyMoves See, something like this game: lichess.org/bvWHv3AT I play normal London moves in the start, but then I play c4 where it looks like a fine position for white with a slight advantage, and after the opening I can attack on the kingside and finish him off. If he doesn't play Bxg3, it's still ok.

@FunnyAnimatorJimTV I'm going to second Sirdilly here and say, play an aggressive opening. You need a win so you don't want to go for something drawish.

If you haven't played an aggressive opening then maybe learn one for the purpose of this game. If you want a win something such as the King's gambit or Danish with white would be good. Sure, Queens gambit gives white a slight advantage, and the London gives white an ok position, but it's not the most ambitious try for a win. If you need a win, get aggressive. If he's also a more positional player he might struggle in more aggressive games ;)

I would recommend:

as white: Kings Gambit, Evans Gambit, Blackmar-Diemer, Open Sicilian

I wouldn't main the Blackmar-Diemer in case he does 1...Nf6 but play it if he does the Scandi

Against French or Caro, play the exchange with an immediate c4

As black, either go for a sharp Sicilian (Dragon, Sveshnikov, Najdorf) or if he plays the Ruy go for the Schliemann: 3...f5!

Playing something such as your usual London doesn't give black that much difficulty getting an 'equal' position, and since it's not very aggressive for either side black can usually obtain a draw without too much difficulty.

Just some suggestions, but if you need a win, in my mind playing an aggressive opening is a no brainer.

If you haven't noticed he's never played e4 and he plays d4..., he doesn't really have time to learn any opening