Should a beginner play d4 or e4 first?

Your opponent didn't play a very challenging line. The most challenging line to face in the London is a c5 d5 Bf5 e6 Qb6 set-up as black. 

I play the London and I've got very good results from it. However, it can still be messed up like any other opening. It's easy to get positionally crushed in the London. 

I understand what you mean by it's easy for beginners to play because there aren't any well-known traps, but you have to have a good understanding of chess in order to come up with decent plans, and good attacks in the London System. 

This is the reason that most teachers teach their students to play 1.e4 because there are more 'tactical' lines for students to win 'faster'. 

So this thread is a London system clickbait advertisement?

I think the author of this thread is trying to say that all beginners should play the London system. She wasn't asking which one was better. 

Clickbait indeed

There are far too many pitfalls for an 800 rated beginner to play 1.  e4  

This is why I suggest the london system.  Hell, Magnus Carlsen crushed numerous players just a few days ago with the london system.  It is simple to play....and it annoys the crap out of king's indian players or any indian defense.

I agree.   I have confronted that line numerous times....but if white stays calm, it really doesn't lead to much complications for white.

I would NOT play e3 there....ever.  I would continue with Bf4.  If black captures the d4 pawn, I play c3 and gambit the pawn.  I have a TON of development for the pawn.   I admit that a beginner MAY possibly not understand this sort of gambit line, but it isn't difficult at ALL for white to play a pawn down with 3 pieces already developed.

this line is a bit annoying against the london, it essentially gives black a position without any bad pieces. Black will play like a french without a bad bishop, so it is quite pleasant. That being said, your points about the fact that there aren't really any traps against the london are very true- it's very easy to teach in as little as 10 minutes and it doesn't create any weaknesses out of the gate really.

EDIT: black is supposed to go d7-d5 also, somehow it wasn't in my annotation. 

First off, I am honored that a NM commented in my topic.  Thank you for the instructive feedback, sir.  

I do agree, COMPLETELY, that there really are NOT any pitfalls if white plays the London System. On the other hand king pawn games tend to have lots of tactics and beginners are not too skilled when it comes to tactics.

when I play london as white, I prefer not to castle on the kingside. I keep the king in the centre as long as possible and then castle on the queen side.

I do the same sometimes!  Very good plan, I agree with you.

The position you posted with d6....is completely equal according to stockfish (even with black a pawn ahead).  I believe it was +0.20. 

BUT the best part is, even though the position is equal, white has all the initiative.  And initiative is of HUGE importance for beginners...and well for everyone.

That is a very good point.  However, you can teach the beginner the london system, while at the same time put them through a rigorous tactics training, like the one on chess.com

Besides, there are some tactics in the london system.  If black is NOT careful, white can get a very quick attack on the kingside.

I wouldn't recommend the London System as the first opening for a beginner because there is the danger that he/she becomes a mindless robot who just reproduces all the typical London System moves without knowing the several subtleties of the position. For example there is that common bad habit of LS players to play h3 (always followed by Bh2) or c3 all the time. It's not always the best move.

I played a lot of games against the London and few people play it in a creative way. Carlsen or Kramnik also began to play it but they played much more creatively and with frest ideas.

As a beginner you should play open positions and learn from your mistakes. With 1.e4 your subjecting yourself to a wide range of pawn structures and stragtegies and you will learn a lot of different concepts.

Nobody forces you to play the open sicilian. There are a lot of sidelines against it which aren't that theory-heavy.

The experience you gain with 1.e4 will not be in vain when the player switches to 1.d4. I think as an intermediate player it is easier to play the London System on a decent level.

time out..... As a beginner , Yes, play the london system. It is quick to learn and as beginner you should not be wasting your precious time on any opening. you don't need theory at this stage . I wasted so much time this route and can tell you from my pain that tactics, end game , and some strategy is way more important particularly in that order. If its good enough for GM's it should be good enough for you.

Pick one as white and two for black ( e4 and d4 reply) , example: 1. London 2. the french 3. the dutch (which by the way go so well together)  thats just my personal rep. but you can do what ever you want. Just go over some games dont focus on memorizing.   Spend more time on the core of chess TACTICS ENDGAME AND BASIC STRATEGY .

Do yourself a favor, if your just new to chess and want to supercharge your development: 1. Download CHESS FUNDAMENTALS (free pdf) go over it and yes the games in the end . 2. Do tactics every day it has to be part of your daily study even if you do nothing else. 3. Go over your bloody games!!!! 4. Then and only then if you have time go over the theory your looking to play comparing it to your games and see where you are going wrong. 

ABOVE ALL GET A CHESS.COM Subscription their are so many resources here for you to get to where you wanna go . 

@BobbyTalparov Hmm, that is a good point. However, like I said, the beginner can play the scandinavian defense or even better, the scandinavian gambit, that way they get a taste for open, super complex positions.

But ask yourself .. Why? will it honestly make you stronger if you have 5 or 6 moves memorized but cant figure out what to do next? openings arent even 1/3 of what you need at this point.