What ELO / level is necessary to play d4?

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Avatar of Finalito
Avatar of Laskersnephew

From ELO 0 to 2900 you should feel free to choose either 1.d4 or 1.e4. I think the advice to start with 1.e4 makes some sense, but it's not a commandment from God, it's just advice. If you want to improve, it is far more important that you play often, preferably at slower time limits, and that you spend some time going over your games trying to figure out what mistakes you are making

Avatar of d0su

I agree, you can open with 1.e4 or 1.d4 at any Elo rating. Play what you like.

I think e4 openings are better at illustrating the very basic fundamental ideas of the game:
"White plays 2.Nf3 threatening to win the e5 pawn"
"Black plays 2...Nc6, defending his pawn"
"White plays 3.Bb5 to remove black's defender"
etc.

This makes more intuitive sense than trying to teach the core 1.d4 concepts, which assume you already know the exceptions to general opening principles:
"White plays 2.c4, trying to control the center. No, it doesn't develop a piece, but you don't want to block your c-pawn with your knight. Oh, and yes it loses a pawn, but white isn't giving it up for good, you see... he can win it back with Qa4+, for example. But don't actually play Qa4+, it's a bad move."

I'd say if you have been actively learning the game for more than a week, you can do just fine against your peers with 1.d4.

Avatar of Finalito

thanks you very much for your advice. My fear was because i did not know if it was bad for my chess learning to play d4 before 2000 elo (recommendation of some)

Avatar of my137thaccount

I'm not sure where this number of 2000 ELO keeps coming from. 2200-2300 is the start of master level - 2000 is still amateur level like 1800 is

Avatar of respecthebish1

Laskers nephew so 2900+ play the grob?

Avatar of Laskersnephew
respecthebish1 wrote:

Laskers nephew so 2900+ play the grob?

2900+ you can throw your shoe on the table on move one and still win

Avatar of Delugiansurvivor

People recommend to start playing chess with e4 because it will often lead to more tactical games which are easier to play when you are a beginner but with appropriate study and effort put into it one can play d4 regardless of their skill.

Feel free to play d4 and learn from your mistakes until you are comfortable playing it. 

Avatar of Finalito

Thank you. I feel much more comfortable with d4. Also, I've been playing e4 for almost 4 years, and up from 1100 to +1600. Thank you very much for the advice

Avatar of dpnorman

1. If your rating is 0 you've got to play e4, but once you break 1 you can play whichever you like. 

Avatar of Finalito

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you are right After 3 years I will play d4 again. Thank you

Avatar of IMKeto
Finalito wrote:

Until you reach master, openings don't matter.  Play whatever opening you like to play.