most hated chess openings

Ones I hate:

Petroff defense: All the variations feel the same too me, and it is hard to get an edge against it. I often try too hard to unbalance the game and end up worse.

Elephant gambit: I don't know what it is with this one, but I tend to do horribly against it. I only see it in blitz and not very often but when I do I tend to screw up somehow. I don't mind the latvian though.

Scandinavian: Only started hating this one recently. I never really know what I am doing, and it seems black always gets a good position with pressure against my center. I need to learn the theory for this one.

I've never had that much of a problem with the Petroff.  Have any of you tried the 3.d4 lines?  I don't find them boring at all; they play kind of like an Open Ruy.

Could not agree more. I have lost games because I was busy laughing at someone's opening!

Definatley petroff for the stupid equal positions and the french (I always just do the exchange and should probably research it more).

No, don't!  1.e4 players tend to dislike the french, but most french players hate the exchange variation.  Every exchange variation played is +1 for team anti-french, and one in the eye for Mr. 1...e6 

 I play 3.d4 now, because the mainline line with 3.Nxe5 wasn't really doing anything for me. I still find the positions tend to be boring and symmetrical. To be honest I don't know the theory as well as I do for many other defences though. If I learn and remember a few of the critical lines around 10 or 15 moves deep things will probably be easier. Remembering them is the hard part though because I don't see the petroff nearly as much as 2...Nc6. 

Four Knights

Ah, you know what, I checked Game Explorer, and I guess I play a pretty offbeat line -- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.dxe5 (much more common is Nxe5).  I like it, though -- White scores fine in it, and it's definitely asymmetrical.

I think the hate for the french comes from the the 1 e4 players who get really annoyed (me too when I play e4) facing it. It's always fun to annoy people by playing the french, as it takes skill to actually build up a kingside attack as they have to play correctly in the center first.

I enjoy playing agaist almost any opening. whether or not I lose or win. I try to learn form them all.

3.Bb5+ (played against the Najdorf)

Or the Hungarian Defense to the Najdorf.

Be sure to play the Exchange Slav, too: 1. d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3. cxd5! Slav players hate it since it ruins their opening preparation.

I can't stand Queen's Gambits. They are too slow for me. People need to learn better defences. Like the King's Indian. Or Queen's Indian. lol

 Hmmm... I think I will try that next time I face the petroff. I always played 5.Nxe5 because I thought the pawn would be kind of overextended on e5. It does create a more unbalanced position though and usually that is what I am after so I will have a further look into it.

Agree. Especially when the person plays Qf3 or Qh5 next. Although when someone does do that, I try much harder to beat them convincingly ;)

hmm, I play the slav as black, for something solid to play against 1.d4, so it doesn't really bother me when the exchange slav is played.  In a way I should be pleased as I'm usually playing people rated above me and it's probably more difficult for me to have an accident in the exchange slav.  They really already played their irritating move for me when they played 1.d4.

I hate most gambits, but the Staunton Gambit in particular. Wouldja just let me set up my little stonewall please?

Petroff! But you can transpose it to four knights defence so it's not really so hated by me.

When I'm white I hate the French. When I'm black I hate the Alapin Variation of the Scilian.