Should a beginner play d4 or e4 first?

like this??

save it then...like this.

Agreed... more the reason I stay off of these forums . They used to be informative.

I'll watch that movie next time I "Netflix and chill". 

Anyway...fine.  I'll bring it back.  When I first started playing chess, I had no idea on what move to make first until I came on this site.  Now, every time I play white, it's always E4.   I feel weird if I even attempt another move other than E4.  

Now, watching my son play, he does whatever move and it really doesn't seem to be a bother.  

I do have a question tho.  When is it ever possible to do that one move where the pawn snakes another pawn if they are side by side? 

Also, is it possible to set it up where this can happen every game? I would LOVE to learn that move.  Seems so ninja to me

The move you are referencing is 'en passant'. Look up the rule.

It is a good rule as it helps prevent positionsl stagnation with dueling pawn walls. The reason it is not very common and thus the most obscure official rule is that the conditions required for it are not frequently conducive to optimal play.

OK...first hit was a perfume...2nd hit, I got it.  but, it only works if the opponent moves his/her pawn 2 spaces on first move?

okeeeeeee..lamen terms please??

You have been blocked

Yeah, that's a great game, but you must have looked really hard because I searched about 20 of his white games yesterday and they were all e4.

Hey thanks! You're welcome  

Well, there is this one trap that happens sometimes. As long as you know it though you'll be fine. 

Something that some people don't seem to know: The london is essentially what happens if white plays the slav with an extra tempo. So, if you like the london a lot you may enjoy the slav defense as well! 

Yeah Bobby Fischer always ALWAYS played e4....that is why Spassky was sooo surprised in game 6 when he played d4.  Spassky was totally taken aback psychologically and Fischer played a brilliant game.

It was here when Fischer realized that chess was quickly becoming ALL about preparation.  It bothered him greatly.

I actually would NEVER take the d4 pawn with the knight.  I always play c3 in response to black taking on d4.  It IS a GAMBIT of a pawn, but I have found it gives white such powerful inititative.  Also, stockfish says the position, even down a pawn after c3, is EQUAL.  A beginner MUST be taught this little trick haha.  AND again, thank you so much for your expertise and feedback.  It is an HONOR, sir.

London sucks if you are a beginner.You need to play e4 if you want to improve like the fried liver and evans.It teaches you how your pieces work.London didn't have like e4 opening.

In fact Spassky had some great statistic too like he hadn't lost a QGD Tartakower in 10 year or something like this. Spassky would have been 100% comfortable, but yes, he played an inaccuracy in the opening.

"There is no such thing as a 'best opening.' Each player should choose an opening that attracts him. Some players are looking for a gambit as White, others for Black gambits. Many players that are starting out (or have bad memories) want to avoid mainstream systems, others want dynamic openings, and others want calm positional pathways. It’s all about personal taste and personal need.
For example, if you feel you’re poor at tactics you can choose a quiet positional opening (trying to hide from your weakness and just play chess), or seek more dynamic openings that engender lots of tactics and sacrifices (this might lead to more losses but, over time, will improve your tactical skills and make you stronger)." - IM Jeremy Silman (January 28, 2016)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/opening-questions-and-a-dream-mate

"... For players with very limited experience, I recommend using openings in which the play can be clarified at an early stage, often with a degree of simplification. To accomplish this safely will take a little study, because you will have to get used to playing wiith open lines for both sides' pieces, but you can't eliminate risk entirely in the opening anyway. ... teachers all over the world suggest that inexperienced players begin with 1 e4. ... You will undoubtedly see the reply 1 ... e5 most often when playing at or near a beginner's level, ... After 2 Nf3, 2 ... Nc6 will occur in the bulk of your games. ... I recommend taking up the classical and instructive move 3 Bc4 at an early stage. Then, against 3 ... Bc5, it's thematic to try to establish the ideal centre by 4 c3 and 5 d4; after that, things can get complicated enough that you need to take a look at some theory and learn the basics; ... Of course, you can also play 1 d4 ... A solid and more-or-less universal set-up is 2 Nf3 and 3 Bf4, followed in most cases by 4 e3, 5 Be2 and 6 0-0. I'd rather see my students fight their way through open positions instead; however, if you're not getting out of the opening alive after 1 e4, this method of playing 1 d4 deserves consideration. ... a commonly suggested 'easy' repertoire for White with 1 Nf3 and the King's indian Attack ... doesn't lead to an open game or one with a clear plan for White. Furthermore, it encourages mechanical play. Similarly, teachers sometimes recommend the Colle System ..., which can also be played too automatically, and usually doesn't lead to an open position. For true beginners, the King's Indian Attack and Colle System have the benefit of offering a safe position that nearly guarantees passage to some kind of playable middlegame; they may be a reasonable alternative if other openings are too intimidating. But having gained even a small amount of experience, you really should switch to more open and less automatic play." - IM John Watson in a section of his 2010 book, Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 4
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-perfect-opening-for-the-lazy-student
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-understand-openings