Indian defenses make me kinda cramped and I don't like that
What is the best defense to 1.d4?
There is no best, but some of the better ones are:
Queens gambit declined and Nimzo are the obvious candidates on the solid side of things.
Semi-Slav and Gruenfeld are also good, although they are risky.
Depends on how much work you want to put into learning something. If you're looking for low theory and solid, I'd go with either the Stonewall Dutch or the Tarrasch. If you're looking for the "best", the Nimzo-Indian has a great reputation (much like the Sicilian has against 1.e4), although it'll take awhile to learn, and you'll have to learn another opening to supplement it (e.g., Queen's Indian Defense) since it can be avoided.
The best defense to 1.d4 for players below 1600 here is 1...d5.
Above 1600, there's no one clear answer. Which makes me very happy!
After e6, the recommended move is c4, not e4. I like the benoni, 1..nf6 2. c4 c5
I am currently playing this line in a game and I like it also. I'll try to remember to come back and mention how it works out.
What is the best defense to 1.d4? I have a friend who plays d4 and I never have come up with a great conclusion. Please tell me what you think.
There is no "best defense" to 1.d4, 1.e4, 1.c4 etc etc. What's "best" for you or me isn't necessarily "best" for every other chessplayer. At your level I'd suggest you try playing the QGA (Queens Gambit Accepted) not because it's the "best" reply to 1.d4 but because the basic ideas and concepts are pretty straightforward, and the Slav Defense Accepted with 4...dc4 is somewhat similar so if you decided to move on you'd have a head start on this line at least.
What is the best defense to 1.d4? I have a friend who plays d4 and I never have come up with a great conclusion. Please tell me what you think.