1. e4 or 1. d4

I believe this is a common misconception, just because e4, d4, and Nf3 all start with like, +0.11 I think. c4 is 0.00

Anyways, I like e4, just because I don't like the extremely positional play that comes out of d4 in some cases.

1.e4

1.d4

Because most players this days study the Sicilian defence which is considered the best choice aginst 1.e4, and simply not used to 1.d4 and the ideas behind them(of course I mean amateurs not professionals :) )

1. e4!!!

Of course the openings like the Sicilian Najdorf are great. But it is the GMs and Super GMs that pioneer the openings, making them popular at all levels. No one really played the Najdorf until Fischer came around and made it his own. The opening itself is very complex and difficult to play. You have a solid pawn center to deflect any attacks, but White has a 3-1 tempo lead on you, leading to many a crushing attack. The reason why the opening suited Fischer so perfectly because it was the ultimate in flexibility while also being ultra-sound. Being that he was better at chess than everyone he played with, he would just let them make the first mistake, and then punish them for it. This is the same reason why it was perfect for Kasparov too.

Before Kramnik stunned Kasparov and the world by toppling the giant, no one really considered the Petrov to be a top-flight opening. It's been around forever, but it never got serious attention until Kramnik proved that in his hand, the Petrov was a drawing machine. Kasparov couldn't score with 1. e4 and the White pieces, and that hurt his championship defense very badly. After that, GMs everywhere started adopting the Petroff into their repertoires. "Hey, if it can stand up to Kasparov's attacks, then it must be good."

There is nothing wrong with dozens and dozens of openings. They can all be just as amazing as the Sicilian, but the modern GMs don't play them as much, so they fade out of the spotlight. Before the Sicilian, the Ruy Lopez used to be considered the only thing a serious player would challenge 1. e4 with, but now that has changed due to influence at the top level.

The Ruy Lopez continues to be an amazing opening that GMs continue to score well with. It's just waiting for a guy like Carlsen to really fall in love with it the way Fischer did so that it will be all the rage again.

d4

I'm not sure if this counts as a valid response in the context of your statement, but WC Petrosian in his prime used the Petrov as a favorite weapon.

So long ago or not so long ago. It depends on your perspective I guess.

Maybe you're right. My chess history isn't absolute. But I definitely think that the Super GMs are all ready to pull out the Petroff against 1. e4, which wouldn't have been the case in the 80s and 90s.

And even with Petrosian, it probably wasn't as feared as it is today.

h4!!!

I'm joking. I play e4

thanks guys and keep them coming!

For the umpteenth time, the Petrov wasn't used once in the WC match between Kramnik and Kasparov.

Kramnik used the Berlin Wall in the Ruy Lopez against Kasparov, but he does use the Petroff as well. The first is basically a drawing machine, the second seems to suit an endgame specialist. 

e4 has most of the really interesting lines.

It's the other way around. The Berlin Defense leads to a rapid endgame, while the Petrov is used solely for drawing purposes.

d4

Keep em coming!

d4 

e4!!!!

f4!