Best Defense vs e4?

What really is the best defense vs e4?

Most people say the sicilian, but I'm not so sure.

I've been experimenting with the caro-kann and I prefer it. It's more solid, positional and doesn't run many risks of an open king and quick attacks against the king.

It also almost always guarantees a victory for black if he can exchange the pieces of the board, which is why I want to use the Caro-Kann as a weapon in rapid or blitz.

Any comments? Or have I missed another defense?

There is no best defense, plain and simple. Each defense has its positives and its drawbacks.

Sicilian
Open game
caro kann
french
scandinavian

Are all good, theres the pirc and alekhine, but I personally rate them somewhat less though theyre still 100% playable even at the top level. 

Scandinavian is the best defense 

That's like asking what the best opening is, there is no such thing.  1...e5 is the most solid reply to 1.e4, and is preferred by the current top players.  I still think it's funny how some people are afraid to play 1.e4 because they have this unfounded notion that the sicilian is SO STRONG OH MY GOD, when in fact white has so many sharp opening variations to 1...c5 that you should relish when your opponent plays the sicilian!  

The sicilian defence is good but...usually who plays the sicilian defense wants an open, tactical game with a lot of counterplay. But white can play positional variations of the sicilian, so it is not the best. You can beat a tactical opening by positional, closed variations. Ok, who wants to play positional games that usually will play 1. d4, but 1. e4 is also an option for it.
There is no best defense. For positional players probably the french (closed) or the caro cann, (but caro kann can be tactical, for example pannov-botvinnik attack) and for tactical players it is probably the sicilian defense. But you may play a rarely played opening, maybe your opponent wont know it, and then you are better.

I endorse h5! setting up a modern trap

At the lower levels, 1...e5 is "best" because the openings that result from it follow the basic rules of opening strategy.  Control your portion of the center.  Develop Knights before Bishops.  Develop all your pieces before moving 1 several times.  Keep your Queen at home early on.  Castle to Safety.  Etc.

From a "theoretical" standpoint, it's like the others say.  They all have their pros and cons.

So my answer would be as follows:

Under 2000 - 1...e5 is best

Over 2000 - Depends on your style of play and the types of positions you understand best.  For many, that may continue to be 1...e5.  For others, it's some form of semi-open defense, each with their own nuances.

Not "hands down", no.  "Indeed, most statistical surveys suggest that 1.d4 is the most successful first move for White, but only because 1...c5 scores so highly against 1.e4."^[1]New in Chess stated in its 2000 Yearbook that of the games in its database, White scored 56.1% in 296,200 games beginning 1.d4, but a full two percentage points lower (54.1%) in 349,855 games beginning 1.e4. "The main culprit responsible for this state of affairs" was the Sicilian, which held White to a 52.3% score in 145,996 games.^[2] At the elite level (> 2500 FIDE rating), 1...e5 scores slightly better, mainly because of the difficulty in breaking down defences such as the Berlin Wall." (Wikipedia)

So, overall, White a little over 52% after 1. e4, c5, something over 54% after 1. e4, Other; and that not at the highest level. But for most of us, go with what you're comfortable with.

Depends upon how you read the statistics. It may not have the best performance statistically, but it is the principal reason that 1.d4 outperforms 1.e4 statistically. Frequency of play is a factor.

I like the Petrov's defense best... It may not be the most aggressive system ever, but an attacking opponent can easily overextend and leave themselves crippled.

Not playing a move at all.    You can't lose doing that...

From my understanding 1.....c5 [the Sicilian] has the highest % of wins.         1.....e5 has the lowest % of losses. What's better? Probably what ever 'you' know best.

Actually now I've changed to the Caro-Kann as my primary 1. e4 counterweapon

Yes you can lose - on forfeit.  You have not made a single move, and 60 minutes have elapsed, you forfeit.  You won't drop rating points, but it's still a "loss" by forfeit!

Again, like many have probably said a kazillion times, it depends on many things.  If there is only 1 move you are comfortable playing, play it.  If you know everything, then there are other factors, such as:

A) Do you know your oponent and his style of play.  If he's a tactician, play The Kan Sicilian or Berlin Wall or Caro-Kann.  If he's a positional junkie, play the Najorf, or Dragon, or Latvian Gambit.

B) It depends on your situation.  Is this round 2, and your first Black, with a win thus far as White?  Or is this a must win final round scenario where you have Black?  If it's the former, 1...e5 is a better move.  If it's the latter, 1...c5 is a better move since a draw is as good as a loss.

Also keep in mind that those percentages are based on GM play and aren't going to give you any help with figuring how well the openings will help you in particular.

One note of caution: you should never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

GM Reti in his classic work "Masters of the Chessboard"  advises beginners to play Double KP Openings whenever possible as White and Black. In your case not because 1...e5 is the "best" reply to 1.e4 but so you can learn about Open Games (which not all Double KP Openings lead to, but many do) ahead of Semi-Open Games (Single KP and Double QP Openings) and save Single QP Openings for next-to-last with Flank Openings (1.c4, 1.f4, 1.Nf3) being the last to play and study

In the 1992 U.S Open I had a successful tournament playing 1d4 in combination with 2 c4 as white and playing Petrov's defense as black. I am the first to admit that [at least in the case of the Petrov's] I found myself struggling to win games I needed to in the later rounds, but it is 'what I knew'. The percentages I gave were based on GM play [as those were the only opening 'stats' that I had access to] and certainly it would be quite a daunting task for even a regular 'club' player to take on the theoretical complexities of say the sheveningen variation of the sicilian [widely used by Kasparov]. Karpov became world champion while usually playing 1 .....e5. Few people below the master level know more than a few openings well. If one is going to successfully compete on a regular basis in Swiss system pairing type tournaments and has a somewhat limited time to study opening theory I would suggest picking something that appeals to you and sticking with it. Your knowledge of it's intricacies can frequently remove some openings 'drawish reputations' [there are usually ways to avoid early 'forced' draws if you're 'better' or simply need to win. If you like the Caro-Kann, then the Caro-Kann it is.

I play the Caro- Kann