In the early opening sequence: 1. d4 d5 2.Nf3 the most common responses seem to be 2…Nf6 or 2…e6 or 2…c6. In most cases the continuation then seems to be 3.c4, leading to several well-known variants of the QGD.
However I have recently experimented a bit (limited amount, and against “club” players of similar strength) with the response: 2…c5. (Different than the Benoni or Benko, of course, because I’ve already played 1…d5; I’ve not fared well having White’s d-pawn camped on d5 in those lines, to be honest.) But the proposed case of course is very different. It seems to me like 2…c5 gives Black some initiative, and some discomfort, in turn, to practicioners of the more “mainstream” QGD lines from the White side.
Of course I have already exposed my own fascination with the Albin, but that only pertains in response to 2.c4. For White’s alternative 2.Nf3, this seems to me to be an interesting counter-punch. (White can transpose to the Tarrasch via 3.c4, but that is only one of several possibilities.)
I haven’t seen this used much in games at higher levels, however, so I guess I’m asking the question here: what are the merits of this alternative, and does it have any fatal flaw?
Thanks for any feedback.