if you play 1.e4..

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Avatar of Spiffe

I prefer seeing e5, but just because I like the Ruy Lopez so much.  I doubt many e4 players are going to be demoralized at seeing c5, though -- after all, it's the most common response, you tend to expect it.  If I was that afraid of the Sicilian, I'd be playing something other than e4.

And for what it's worth, I play both of them in response to e4, but I actually prefer the black side of e5 these days. Smile

Avatar of neb-c

e5

Avatar of IPA-Ray

I don't like the Black side of the Ruy Lopez so usually play c5.

Avatar of Ravetacular

i play the Reti opening before i play e4

Avatar of Manchero

i always play c5 in response to e4. i found it difficult to play against c5 until recently, because e5 was more familiar. Learn to play better against the sicilian if you don't score well against it now.

Avatar of dashkee94

I always play e4 and the difference between e5 and c5 is one of taste.  Against e5, White will have to chew on granite for a while, but he can sustain an initiative against it.  e5 is a headache.  Against c5, White must be prepared to enter the world of lies and illusions, for there are transient values in the Sicilian.  c5 is unsound for both White and Black.  Which do I prefer to face?  An opponent that doesn't understand either one.

Avatar of Red_Sox_Legend

I hate it when they play c5, When they play e5 I can play my regular attack and will almost alwaysend up a pawn ahead.

Avatar of Saccadic

I hate White 1.d4

Avatar of glafnazur139

I love c5 and nearly always play the Najdorf variation although not always very successfully. I virtually always open with d4 when playing white. I often think to myself 'let's play something different' and then I still play d4! I guess it is what I am comfortable with.

Avatar of erikido23
PawnInTheGame wrote:

If you play 1.e4 do you prefer playing against 1...e5 or against 1...c5? Which makes you feel more comfortable?


 I like playing against both about equally and am comfortable against both.  There are just a few lines which I feel are a little less exciting to play against in e5.  Generally against c5 I will get a fun game.   I used to have trouble against the kan/najdorf.  But, now that I have lots of practice against it is pretty fun.  

Avatar of shakje

Personally I don't think e4 should be as daunting as it is. At my level (oscillating between 1500-1600 depending on how much practice I get done) I see a fair few play Sicilians, but the majority of them are Najdorfs, and since the first opening I really made an effort to learn, as black, was the Najdorf, I'm reasonably comfortable playing a main line. Other than that, I'll play the Scotch. For the French I plump for a Reti gambit, which leads to a fun game, the English I go for a symmetrical with the lines suggested by Pallister in his Unusual Chess Openings book, and that's as much as I really need at the moment. I try to learn new lines in the Sicilian as black every so often, just to keep me on my toes, and give me good chances. I'm leaning towards learning how to play a closed sicilian properly at the moment..

Avatar of NexusXTC

I almost never play 1. e4, but I love to play against it, as I'm good with the Caro-Kann and it's close cousin, the French. I don't really play the Sicilian that often, but when I do, I prefer the Najdorf Variation.

As white, I play 1.d4, 1.c4, and, sometimes, the Polish.

Avatar of ericmittens

I much prefer it when black plays c5...as I hate the ruy lopez but love playing the white side of an open sicilian. The only way I could ever make e5 interesting was to play the king's gambit...but that got tedious after awhile.

Avatar of MyNameIsLuke

i like 1.e5 c5. 2.Nc3 

Avatar of Lane14

1...c5 leads to a fun game and  gives me an excuse to yell: "RRRICHTERR-RAUZERRR!"Laughing

That is why I prefer facing the Sicilian. However, at the moment I have no clue on how to reach a favorable position if black plays early e6 or sveshnikov.

Avatar of Vonzi

I like my opponents to play e5. but I play c5

Avatar of Zenchess
Lane14 wrote:

1...c5 leads to a fun game and  gives me an excuse to yell: "RRRICHTERR-RAUZERRR!"

That is why I prefer facing the Sicilian. However, at the moment I have no clue on how to reach a favorable position if black plays early e6 or sveshnikov.


LOL I want to try that...Is there a specific way you have to say the RRRIIICHCHTTER RAUUZZERR!!

Avatar of Manchero

The majority of my opponents (mostly rated below 1700) play e5. I prefer playing against this because of the familiarity. I always play c5 myself and find approximately 50% of opponents struggle to find a good position at my level. I fully expect that to be different as I improve further and encounter more players skilled at playing against the sicilian.

Avatar of Shiraaaaazi

personally I love playing against 1...c5. the point is that since its played 53% of the time and from it the Nadjorf is played 52% youre essentially playing against the nadjorf 25% of your games. And i love this because I play what Kamsky played

Its ironic, you guys say you quit 1. e4 because of the sicilian, i play 1. e4 FOR the sicilian!

Avatar of yusuf_prasojo

For beginners who find the Sicilian too advanced, I suggest to play the Grand Prix Attack or the Closed Sicilian. This is to avoid useless experience playing positions you never understand (where you learn a little). No need to run away to 1.d4.