To the OP:
What about this game? Oh, well that was just some 2550 who was over matched against Luke McShane. Perhaps this one? Wait, but that was an endgame, so Shirov probably made a mistake somewhere. Ivanchuk - Ponomariov 2011, 0-1 in 26 moves.
You say "White is statistically outscoring Black quite heavily," and this may be true, but it's also true of any other opening. As a number of books proclaim, Black is OK.
the club player since they likely lack understanding of the positions to actually play them correctly and will thus lose much of their advantage unless the opponent blunders worse.
Well, I have to disagree with this. A thorough understanding of the ruy lopez can go a long way - and it certainly will not leave a player without ideas. I do believe that unless White doesn't have some worked out plans, Black will need to play flawlessly in order not to lose.
You say "White is statistically outscoring Black quite heavily," and this may be true, but it's also true of any other opening. As a number of books proclaim, Black is OK.
Actually, you can just go to the games explorer, and it cannot be argued that there is a tremendous statistical disadvantage for black once the spanish game lines are entered. Here are the numbers
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 - the stats are: 38.1%(white) - 26.8(draw) - 25.1%(black)
After 1.e4 c5 they are: 37.5%(white) - 30.4%(draw) - 32.1%(black)
That is a very, very big difference.
yup, theunderground, that is precisely why i stay away from openings that are heavy in theory that everyone and their brother knows. i like to play 1.f4 or 1. nf3 or even 1. d4 so we can get to playing chess, right off the bat.
playing 1. e4 can lead to fun and interesting positions, but a stronger player is going to crush the e4 advocate with black. there's simply too many games, too many lines, too much theory to know.
1. f4 - chess playing from the get-go. :D
According to chessbase's most recent database, if we look at mastergames only, white scores 57% in the mainlines after a6, which is better than black, but hardly something extraordinary.
You should't use statistics as you do, since they will only tell you half the story. White is doing fine against the Sicilian at Gm lvl, however, at club level below 1800, white scores less than 50% in the open sicilians. Does this mean the Sicilian should be banned, or that it refutes the 1.e4? Hardly.
No position or opening should ever be banned becaus one side scores better than the other, it's up to both players to determine what get's play, you don't like it? Don't play it.
You are mostly correct, but not 100% imo. The answer to your question is easy once you understand what chess is all about.
There are two critical variables involved: 1) players strength 2) game complexity.
Below 2200 (maximum), as Black, you don't need game complexity to increase your winning chance because chess is already too complex for players at this level. What you need is an opening that will separate you from weaker players, and playing Ruy Lopez is better than playing the Sicilian here (!).
Above 2200, players already know how to play chess better, and it becomes difficult to win as Black unless you can create a double edge position such as the Sicilian.
That is the major "why". If at your level you feel at disadvantage to play the Ruy Lopez, try the Marshall Attack. If you still feel the same, then try an opening that suits your skill and personality, no matter how faulty it is.
Black can get decent chances in the main lines and the Berlin.
Thank you very much for your response - it is very helpful! I will look into the Marshall some more!
I understand what you are saying in this part, but can you explain it a little more? It seems interesting, and also tell me why Ruy Lopez separates you more than the Sicilian?
Anyway, to everyone else, my main purpose for starting this thread is just to get opinions from people who have more experience than me - because since I am not a professional player, I don't have allll the time I would need to study every single opening in the world in-depth. However, I'm also not lazy, so I would like to just decide for now what I will spend my time look into more - c5 or e5! I do personally like to play the Ruy Lopez as White.
The Ruy Lopez is a great opening that I use often. It's great to learn about.
If chess is theoretically a draw, which I believe it is, then I believe that 1...e5 is as strong as 1...c5. But there are so many reasons why one opening can be subjectively better than the other.
I believe that 1.e5 is "stronger" than 1.c5, though this slight advantage White always have is theoretically not enough for a win, but practically this slight advantage increases the probability for the opponent to go wrong (hence the increase in winning chance).
The stronger your level, the more difficult it is to win with Black (this is the issue at GM level where draw is already an achievement with Black). But GMs are not perfect players (otherwise all games will be drawn), if the position can be made complicated, then they will see chess as beginners see it, and Black's chances will be like it is in the beginners case (subjectively "increased").
So, winning chance with Ruy Lopez is probably stronger than with Sicilian (I believe so) when chess is not too easy in the eyes of the players. And it requires positional understanding as well as tactical skill. If skill is too low, which opening is the best is more about "luck", you can try any openings even the one without name. You will play the opening not as higher rated players will play it anyway.
BTW, if you look at chess engine analysis, White positions in the Ruy Lopez are often have minus. There is a reason for this.
Look into my blog post "Ruy Lopez Explained (Chigorin)". The Chigorin is a mainline. By looking into it you will realize that in the Ruy Lopez White can maintain his slight advantage rather longer than in other openings. This will increase the possibility for Black to go wrong. But of course, like in any other sound openings, at the end Black will equalize somehow. But still, as the equal position is still "rational", factor of luck is minimal, hence you can rely on your superiority in positional or tactical play to win the "equal" game.
I forget to add to my last post that playing the Ruy Lopez (1...e5 in general) as a beginner will improve your skill than playing the Sicilian. When you become stronger, you already know the in and out of the opening, so it is your subjective advantage. It will take time to change the opening. But most high rated players change their repertoires at certain time. I would say that the Sicilian is a future opening, but not to be employed too early.
Currently I play the King's Gambit. One of the reason I play this opening is to support my ability to play the Sicilian position in the future. The relationship (between playing the Sicilian and KG) is probably fuzzy to most eyes, but to my eyes, it is clear.
ruy lopez is doing just fine at top level play, but this i will say why play e4 e5? youll just end up in a kings gambit(does anyone enjoy playing agaisnt that?) or ruy lopez where you have to play perfect chess just to hold on to equality, i see that super gms are doing fine with it but thats just it! there super gms and know exactly what theyre doing in their opening prep. i highly suggest siclian or caro kann
ruy lopez is doing just fine at top level play, but this i will say why play e4 e5? youll just end up in a kings gambit(does anyone enjoy playing agaisnt that?) or ruy lopez where you have to play perfect chess just to hold on to equality, i see that super gms are doing fine with it but thats just it! there super gms and know exactly what theyre doing in their opening prep. i highly suggest siclian or caro kann
Ha ha ha yes, the King's Gambit can be a thorn in 1...e5 repertoire work. But just play the Counter Gambit. If you have more time, the Modern defense. No need to go to the mainline (it will not worth the effort imo) unless you are the one who play the White side.
But the Caro-Kann and especially the Sicilian are too advanced for beginning players.
But no, Ruy Lopez is not just fine in high level. The original post is correct. At super GM level, Ruy Lopez is just fine (you will mostly get a draw anyway). But at 2200-2400, you better think twice.
I've never really seen the King's Gambit as much of a problem. It's actually quite a silly attempt to throw White off, which usually results in the Black king being attacked until the slightest mistake leaves Black with no option but to resign.
It's all about advantage and disadvantage consideration. Moves and positions have both positive and negative effects, so do openings. If you manage to find out what the opponent's game plan is (or his last move's purpose), chances are that you will find a weakness too, and if you exploit it, you should equalize.
Specifically about the Ruy Lopez: in many variations Black creates threats which don't fall behind White's, so the game becomes double edged. If White doesn't manage to maintain pressure long enough, he will have a hard time once he loses the initiative. But that's the purpose of 1...e5 as a response to 1.e4 - it results in a more open game with more tactical combinations early on. If Black doesn't like that, he shouldn't play 1...e5, but go for a more "solid" defense that will let him equalize slowlier, but will make it hard for White to take an early advantage. Players who perform worse at the Ruy Lopez with Black (as with any other opening) should blame not the opening, but themselves - for not choosing an opening they feel comfortable with. That choice is subjective, because it should take into account the player's skills, knowledge, preferences and experience (as well as the opponent's ones, if they are known) before the overall game statistics.
Specifically about the Ruy Lopez: in many variations Black creates threats which don't fall behind White's, so the game becomes double edged. If White doesn't manage to maintain pressure long enough, he will have a hard time once he loses the initiative. But that's the purpose of 1...e5 as a response to 1.e4 - it results in a more open game with more tactical combinations early on.
I agree with your first point, but not with the second at all: the closed Ruy is one of the most closed and non-tactical openings there is! It's perfectly normal to reach a position after 15 moves where not a single pawn has been traded yet!
Many possibilities after 1.e4 e5 are open and tactical, but the Closed Ruy isn't one of them.
Yes, but 1.e4 e5 leads not only to the Ruy Lopez, and the Ruy Lopez is not only played as closed 
1...e5 lets White play many aggressive openings such as the King's gambit, the Parham Attack (Wayward Queen Attack), the Napoleon Attack, the King's Knight Opening, the Bishop's Opening, and many others, and each of them can result in different sharp play variations. 1...c6 and 1...e6, for example, result in much slowlier-paced games with rather positional than tactical themes.
Yes, I know. Still it's strange that you first describe how the Ruy is ("If White doesn't manage to maintain pressure long enough, he will have a hard time once he loses the initiative.") and then say that that is because 1...e5 leads to open tactical positions -- when you were talking about positions that aren't open and tactical at all!
I've been reading more and more on the Ruy Lopez, and I'm absolutely convinced that it is a fantastic opening (that is not to say that I am good enough to make many valid criticisms on openings in the first place--- but that's not the point!).. what I mean is, that it is clearly an opening that can cause tremendous amounts of pressure, and that really seems to favor the white player.
The question I've been asking myself again and again is quite simply why? Why would Black ever allow the Ruy Lopez? This is what I don't understand! Even at the highest level, White is statistically outscoring Black quite heavily. And well, for someone who isn't a professional chess player it would be even more hopeless to try to fight the ruy lopez as black!
On the other hand, I have noticed that after 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 - going down the old Spanish road is probably one of the best things to do for Black, relatively. I would suppose that the easiest way to not be destroyed is of course to hit e4 with c5.
note: of course, much of this goes to generalizations, but let's remember that discussions usually tread along that line anyway.