Defences to e4 : Help needed

I am currently looking for a defence to e4 that is not as mainstream as the other major openings, in particular the sicilian or e5, but still gives me a good fighting chance and ideally does not cramp my position. It would help if the opening did not transpose to lines of the sicilian or ruy lopez.

Thanks in advance

if someone can answer u , chess would be solved for good......but if i understand u well, go for the MODERN DEFENSE

its like the KID for reply of 1d4 , if u want to transpose from it u can but white cant drag u away

I think what you need is the Center Counter Defense or the Scandinavian Defense (1. e4-d5). It is easy to understand, and it leads to rapid development of the pieces, giving black a free-flowing position.

Try the Alekhine or the Scandinavian...

The Alekhine often results in a cramped position for black, which is why I recommended the Scandinavian instead.

sicilian is good for me

I ask because I like to reduce the amount of opening theory required and surprise the opponent. Hence I always play d4; if they play d5, I do QG; if they play Nf6, I play Trompowsky. So, I am looking for an opening that mimics the type of opening I play with d4 (less opening theory required). Also, I think the scandinavian isn't played much at master level and is not that good for black, considering the queen is out early and development is restricted because the quuen is constantly at risk.

Use the Nf6 variation of the Scandinavian (1. e4-d5 2. exd5-Nf6) if you don't want to bring the queen out early. This variation often results in rapid development and good mobility for black's pieces.

what i would do is move my knight to f6. but then again, i'm pretty much a beginner.

 by the way u can still play trompowsky against 1....d5

humm... nobody has suggested the French?

French and Caro-Kann are both possibly viable, but depending on the variation can get a little "cramped".  From the description, it sounds like the Scandinavian would be perfect.

I was about to suggest this as well; it is an absolutely lovely opening and I've been playing it for a couple of years.

The French is also very good, a solid hardworking opening which can be very resiliant to attack.

How about the Caro-Kann? If you try the CK and then study up on tactics (Reinfeld's 1001 puzzles, Seirwan, etc.), people might be in for a nasty surprise -- they might expect you to dig down and play defense until they get buzzed. At least it works for me; also, it plays a lot like a d4 opening. In fact, the Exchange of the CK for Black plays almost exactly like a QGD exchange for White. So, here is a possible way to play:

--Main line -- Bronstein Larsen with ...gxf6.

--Panov-Botvinnk -- ...g6 (sacrifices a pawn in many lines for sharp play).

--Exchange -- Early ...Bg4; head for Minority Attack positions.

--Two Knights -- 3...dxe4 followed by 4...Nf6 frequently transposes to the main lines.

play the pirc, 1.d6

A few words:

• You probably do not understand 1... e5 or 1... c5 openings. Constantly switching openings will mean you will never understand any openings, and all of them will fustrate you. I'm not sure if this applies to you, but you should give one opening enough time that you can play the opening just as well as anybody else.
  
• The ruy lopez and sicilians are tough openings to beat. So are openings that come from unusual positions. Unusual openings are not magical, they are simply unusual, and as black you are going to have a rough time.
  
• If you are simply tired of somebody that knows opening theroy to move twenty, don't worry about learning a new opening to turn his +/= theroretical advantage into an =. Learn tactics and swallow his knight while he mutters about how much your openings suck.
• 1... e5 is the most instructive opening.   1... c5 wins the most at the grandmaster level.

     I agree with MBickley; you need to settle on one defense and learn it well.The Petrov has a lot to be recommended so is the Scandinavian that I play. The trick is to know is better than white.I  rarely lose in the opening; it's the middlegame where my problems start. Stick with one or 2 defenses for e4.

Just use any opening you feel comfortable with, stick with it and you will gradually become better by learning from your previous mistakes that you made when using that opening.