Learning e4

Im a 2000 player that have d4 as my main weapon and i haven't played e4 since I was like a 1200 player 3 years ago. Now I want to extend my opening repetorie and give myself a challenge by learning e4 so I can play it at my level with decent result. However I don't consider myself as a tactical player and I would really want to avoid the opening sicilian. Do you guys have any recommendations on a calm repetoar with e4 and maybe some tips on good books. These books should give a good introduction on e4, I don't want any deep theory. Thanks on forehand for answers!

An easy repertoire for me was:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 and pick a position you want to play like 4.d4, 4.Bb5, 4.g3 or even 4.a3.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd 4.Qxd4, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 (King's Indian Attack) and 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 but it's hard to find simple moves after 2...Nc6... You might try 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 but this is very tactical...

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.ed ed 4.c4 and 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.ed cd c4 where you just play an isolated pawn game instead of having to learn a lot of theory. GM Norman Miezes is a good player to look at because he has played this a lot.

In all the other openings I just played natural moves and did fine. In those other openings Black has to play weird moves to justify himself (imo) and White can usually just play natural moves and get a good game for himself without knowing much theory. For example 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 is just natural and Black can either play 2...e5 which is normal or some other move that just makes him work harder than you have to. But that's just my opinion on things.

I find all this stuff with just google and an online database. Some helpful stuff...

http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/games/java/2009/fr-ex-c4.htm

http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/articles/opening/isolani/isolani-best-A.htm

Maybe try A Simple Chess Opening Repertoire for White by Sam Collins

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/A_Simple_Chess_Opening_Repertoire_for_White.pdf

or My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White by Vincent Moret.

https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/9033.pdf

thx you got me thinking about learning the KIA, however want to focus on mainline, shall look up the book by collins

I had a chess friend who always played 1.e4 c5. 2.Nf3 and then 3.c4, and unless Black plays e5 you will play 4.d4 and reach a Maroczy Bind structure.  Very positional, and most Black players don't know how to deal with it.  I've used a similar approach, opting for the Prins variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.f3, with the idea of c4 next move), and you can also do it with the Bb5(+) variations.

Alternatively, you can try the Karpov method of playing the Open Sicilian simply, just Be2 and 0-0.  Black achieves theoretical equality, but all the pieces are on the board, positions are far from drawish, theory is minimal and the better player will win.  Tim Taylor has a book outlining this approach, Slay the Sicilian, which has favourable reviews.  Perhaps worth a look.

Against the Caro-Kann, I would prefer 2. d3 and 3. Nd2 leading straight into a KIA where Black has already committed to playing c7-c6.

If you are looking for a quiet, more positional and less tactical alternative to the Open Sicilian, what's wrong with 2. Nc3 and 3. g3? The positions don't stray far from equality... but you get the type of game you want, while the Sicilian player probably doesn't (most people don't play the Sicilian with a quiet, positional game in mind).

Why would anyone be afraid of the sicilian, seriously?

Yeah, odd isn't it. I like that opening from either side. When I finally got a chance to play a former World Chess Champion in a simul, naturally I played a Sicilian Najdorf against him. What else?

Leo_C wrote:

"thx you got me thinking about learning the KIA, however want to focus on mainline, shall look up the book by collins"

Just to try to make sure that there is no misunderstanding here: KIA is the Moret suggestion for the French Defense. After 1 e4 e5, the suggestion is 2 Nf3. After 2...Nc6, the suggestion is 3 Bc4.

Go kings indian attack

If you want an e4 repertoire with control, here's my suggestions:

-Open Games :  Italian Game with d3 (giuoco pianissimo), Nimzo against Petrov

-Sicilian: 3.Bb5 lines, against 2...e6 Sicilians go for KIA or delayed alapin, whichever you prefer

-Caro Kann: Two Knights

-French: Tarrasch

-Scandi: 3.Nf3

-Pirc/Modern: classical lines with h3

-Alekhine: Exchange

Exchange? And give up playing my Madman variation?

Wow. Still, Stockfish doesn't see a way forward after 8... Bg7 9. Qf3 Bf6.

Only a bot would play Qf3. This is a positional attack, not a forced combination.

White's plan is to cut the board in two pieces (by setting up a Pawn roadblock with d5 vs d6 and e6 vs e7)) with Black's entire army stuck on the wrong side of the roadblock. White then transfers HIS entire army to the correct side of the roadblock.

That's the point of a4 (which almost forces a5 in reply)... White intends Ra3 and then off to the King's side, h4 to mobilize the other Rook, Bd3 to threaten Rxh7 (or a sac on g6), and so on.

Quite possibly the sacrifice is unsound... but try an experiment. Set a clock to normal OTB time controls, sit there as Black, and try to find a defense! It's a Tal-type line... probably unsound if your opponent plays perfectly, but also a nightmarish jungle of variations to sort through, while the clock sits there ticking at you...

I'd like to learn e4 as well. Good ideas here. 

Agreed @blueemu. Still, I feel that many players will go home after the game, crack the line with their computer, and then win handily the second time.

Can you post some OTB games of yours in this line? I'm interested in seeing how this variation works in practical play.

 Don't have my scores with me. Most of my stuff is a thousand km away. I just finished working a couple of years on an Army base (at the Tactics School, although Chess wasn't the topic) and I'm just staying with friends until I find another contract.

Can you name any good book on the ruy lopez or KIA

What do you mean by "Im not a tactical player"

Do you still blunder your pieces?

Just go with the flow dude, do the same you did with d4 but this time with e4. Is not like you reached 2000 FIDE without knowing basic sterotypes about 1.e4 lines.

COME ON, WAKEUP.