Is e4 still playable?

With the rising popularity of the Berlin Defense, I’ve decided to prepare 1. e4 e5 as black for use against higher rated players. It seems to me like theoretically, the Ruy Lopez can be met with the Berlin, the Italian Game can reach positions like the Giuoco Pianissimo (literally translates to “very quiet game”). It seems to me that black can get relatively easy (although theoretically complex) draws out of all the main variations of e4 e5, other than the Vienna (which I don’t know anything about) and the King’s Gambit (which is rarely played at the top level). Since black gets draws so easily, why is e4 still playable?

Yes, 2700+ GMs still use it!

@GMPatzer Well I’m aware, and I know they still get wins, but in theory could I not get a draw every time if I improved a lot and memorized a lot of lines?

In theory you could probably get at least a draw in every game if you improved a lot and memorized a load of lines in almost any opening repertoire. I wouldn't say taking up 1...e5 is necessarily a terrible idea if you've looked at some games and it seems like an interesting opening to you, but it is worth considering whether you should just stick with what you're playing at the moment and either learn it better or focus on stuff other than the opening.

Lol Good luck with that 

Everyone knows white should play the Hungarian opening and black should play Owen's defense and castle queenside.  Those are the most fun and oddball openings.  Queens pawn zuckertort chigorin variation has been very fun to play - I beat two WAY stronger opponents with it.

The Berlin Wall endgame is extremely complex, and quite difficult to play properly- both colors involved. Theoretically equal? Certainly yes, but who cares?

I always play e4, and yes it's playable...

I've won thousands of games against people rated 1300-1900 using this opening:

Amateurs get more and more ridiculous.

Which move by White does not lead to a draw if Black doesn't make any mistakes?

I’m not saying that black can’t get a draw, but it doesn’t take much to get a draw from e4 e5. I don’t know the Italian very well, but as an e4 player, it seems like at least the Ruy Lopez is unplayable as black can get a drawn Endgame with best play

Doesn’t take much to get a draw against e4?

If your level of play made that slightly true you’d have been playing Carlsen instead of Caruana.

What complete tosh.

Thank you for the helpful answer

I didn’t mention “at my level”. I asked about opening theory, hence I put this in the “Openings” category and not the “pick on lower rated players because you’re an asshole” category.

of course

yes

e4 for ever

agressive!!!

believe!!