What is the best opening move:e4 or d4?

3 months ago · Quote · #41
ajian

go d4!!!!!!!!!!
3 months ago · Quote · #42
Mainline_Novelty

Yeah, you could argue the Exchange French is more like a 1.d4 line than an 1.e4 line, but obviously White has other, more "e4-style" options against the French...
3 months ago · Quote · #43
Mainline_Novelty

I agree, but in general 1.e4 positions tend to be more direct, and 1.d4 positions tend to be more subtle, but there are also many exceptions, for example basically the entire King's Indian Defense.
3 months ago · Quote · #44
Expertise87

Well, basically in 1.d4 openings White spends the whole game wishing he or she played 1.e4 until he or she finally moves the e3-pawn up another square at which point Black either equalizes immediately or gets a worse position.

In 1.e4 openings White plays d4 whenever he or she wants.
3 months ago · Quote · #45
warrior689

well its your choice
3 months ago · Quote · #46
TacticalSymphony

Expertise87 wrote:

In 1.e4 openings White plays d4 whenever he or she wants.

Basically, yeah.
3 months ago · Quote · #47
blueemu

The opening move that suits your style is the best one.
3 months ago · Quote · #48
maskedbishop

Pick your three favorite GMs. If that's too broad go with three favorite WCs.

Look on chessgames.com for their top openings as White.

Make your call from that.
3 months ago · Quote · #49
maskedbishop

OR play Nf3
2 months ago · Quote · #50
xxvalakixx

"Well, basically in 1.d4 openings White spends the whole game wishing he or she played 1.e4 until he or she finally moves the e3-pawn up another square at which point Black either equalizes immediately or gets a worse position.
In 1.e4 openings White plays d4 whenever he or she wants."

It is not so simple. Yes, it is totally true what you wrote. But there is a big difference in 1. e4 and 1. d4. The d4 pawn is protected, the e4 pawn is not protected when you play it as first move. There are several openings, which are based on attacking the e4 pawns, and without playing e4 those openings would not be as effective as in case of e4 has been played.

Compare for example the owen's defence with the Queen's indian defence. The only difference is that in the owen black can attack the e4 pawn, in the QID black cannot, since there is no pawn on e4.
2 months ago · Quote · #51
skakmadurinn

1. e4
2 months ago · Quote · #52
naturalproduct

I like both. I'm starting to discover I am a more positional player, so I lean towards d4, but that's misleading because there are also positional e4 openings/possibilities. I think if your a positional player opening with e4, Black has more oportunities to turn it tactical.