For all my chess life I have met 1.e4 with 1...e5, but I am getting to the point where I dont like where my opponent can take the game from there (giuoco pianissimo for instance).  So I am finally deciding to try out a new defense against 1.e4.  I would prefer something where I could open the game up at my will.  Also I would like to counterattack more than defend.  As soon as I find something i like against 1.e4 I feel like my opening repertoire would be complete for the time being.  So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for reading

I don't know a whole lot about Chess, but I do know that I love the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5). There are a ton of variations and it allows for the counterplay that you desire. I also have heard that it is the best scoring response to 1.e4. Hope I helped in some way.

The Sicilian is the next to most popular than ... e5.

 Other options would be the French (1. ... e6),  Scandanavian (1. ... d5); more off the wall (hypermodern) would inlude Alekhine (1. ... Nf6), and the Pirc and Modern (1. ... d6/g6) which are similar in design.

 Here's an overview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-Open_Game

The sicillian is definitely an option for me.  My only problem with it, is there are so many "anti-sicillian" openings around, that there are a lot of lines to learn it seems.  Maybe I am wrong though.  I don't really like how in the French black can get kind of cramped up, so I don't think thats an option for me.  As far as the hypermodern openings go, I would rather have something that thrusts back at the center quicker.  Ya know, the more I think about it, maybe the sicillian is for me.

I agree! The Sicilian is amazing! And if your opponent makes a move you didn't expect in the current version of the Sicilian you are playing there are severel versions and you can easily change what you need to do. All you have to do is study the severel versions (Najdorf, Closed,etc...)

Yeah, there are a lot of anti-Sicilians that lead to strategic middlegames, but the majority of the time there ensues a more tactical and sharp game, if that's what interests you.  Depending on your level you should take a second look at the Alekhine, there's almost always a sharp response and though you're a little cramped it's solid and very reliant on counter-attacking.

Can anyone recommend any Sicilian books, videos, whatever to help me get started?  Something that will explain the ideas of the opening, what kind of game black can hope for, and some game examples with analysis of the opening.  Thanks for all the responses

Starting Out: The Sicilian (Starting Out - Everyman Chess) - John Emms; not sure if still in production (only a few years old) but this is a very good starter/"ideas" type of book and a well-known writer.  I'm sure you could request it from a library.  You're not really going to find much outside of books, unless you go to http://www.chesspublishing.com/content/ which contains many annotated games in nearly all openings to stay current with opening theory (for more advanced players); this is subscriptioned-based of course.  Enjoy :)

c5 for sure, just have to read a lot of books on it because there are a lot of ways to play against it, and if you dont know how to counter play your screwd

I would offer 1...c5, its a very sharp, interesting opening! I play it myself since the age of 5 and still like it a lot!

if you play 1... c5 you better be prepared to learn a LOT of theory on it! white can throw a lot of systems at you. i'd opt for something less theoretically sharp.

I ordered the book "Starting out... The Najdorf", and have started playing 1...c5 in blitz games.  I can't wait 'til i actually know whats going on in the opening! hah

I like the French Defense ( 1...e6, 2...d5 and, sometimes 3...c5). It's, for me, one of the best ways to fight for central control when playing the blacks.