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Stop playing 1.e4

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chessiq

Since everybody seems to like 1.e4, I am considering stopping. That way, may be I will win more because people don't focus on the other Openings as much. What do you think?

nyarlathotep

1.e4 is a fantastic opening, but it's definitly the most used (and thus most known) opening by a landslide.  I'd recommend the Barcza to King's Indian Attack if you're looking for a change of pace.

 

I already mapped out the moves in this post if you'd like to check it out and give it a try 

 

Let me know your results Laughing

SonofPearl
I think everyone should play to their strengths.  If you like 1.e4 then why not play it?  I don't think you should swap just because other people play it a lot.  There is a lot of theory for 1.d4 too, and your opponents might know that as well!
vernon
well 1e4 is a very popular opening because it opens two pieces but it is over used and the barcza is a good 1 but hard 2 play off of
Sprite

I feel that you shouldn't switch your typical opening just because everyone else plays it.  However, if you are looking to throw off an opponent, playing 1.d4 and the openings that emerge from it works if you are more familiar with the territory.  My classmates strictly play 1.e4, so 1.d4 presents them with a challenge before they even play.  However, I'm sure players of your level will be somewhat familiar with 1.d4, so it comes down to who blunders/overlooks a certain move, or who has studied more of the variations that emerge.

 Good luck to you!

tactician
i sometimes play e4, other times i play d4, c4 Nc3 or whatever I feel like. I dont try to play the same opening because it gets boring. Tongue out
Darren96
I love e4.
Peon

e4: The best by test.

Saw Bobby Fischer 

BrianN
1. e4 is the more popular for a reason, as they allow for a more "open" game where piece play flows more easily, allowing more a more tactical game as opposed to 1. d4 (hence open systems with 1. e4 e5 and closed systems with 1. d4 d5).  I would seriously warn against playing anything else if you are a beginner for this very reason.  Tactics must be taught before positional play, most experts will advise you.  Here's one of the most helpful chess site's approach to this, a great resource if you've never heard of them (much more than just openings): http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/openings.html#beginner
SirChessalot
i Agree e4 is more popular.
fair_and_equal
  If you don't like 1e4 then try another but until you are as good with your second choice opening as you are with 1e4 then stick with it. By all means try it.
TraglorfBob
Don't listen to them!!! Come to the dark side and play 1. d4 Laughing. 1. d4 is considered to have a higher win probability for white than 1. e4 because of the strength of the sicilian defenses. And besides, if you only stick with openings that are familiar, how do you learn something new?
fair_and_equal
  Good point, but how many more games have been played with e4? It is an unfair test as my science teacher would say!!
TraglorfBob

The point is, that black can respond to 1. e4 with the sicilian defense, a very powerful opening whereas responses to 1. d4 debatably aren't quite as powerful.

SANGUINIU

If you don't want to play 1.e4 because it's popular, then why not to play 1.h4? I bet there aren't so much games with this opening! Tongue out

 Ok, joking apart: 1.d4 is not a bad choice, but you can always play the English opening 1.c4, or if you prefer even more strange openings, then 1.b4, which provides lots of tactical traps.

LeviAJones
i have started trying to work on my 1. d4 openings
Thijs

You may also consider 1. f4 (the Bird's opening) then, since that's an even less played opening but also decent enough to win games with. The positions arising after 1. f4 are mainly the From's Gambit (1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 d6), the reversed Dutch (playing the Dutch Defence but with an extra tempo! - 1. f4 d5), and sometimes play transposes to a good version of the Grand Prix Sicilian or a Closed Sicilian. So if you like those openings, you could consider playing the Bird's.
 

alec94x

 

1.e4 is best by test

 

 

Trickster
Wy don't you try f4 for a change?
ATJ1968
Set FRITZ up at the start of a game and put it on infinate analysis and it suggests 1.e4 everytime.