Why don't you take all the games from people rated over 2700 in the last 5 years and see what they think? This is a silly question. 1 move in to the game, how could you determine which one is better. If you really wanna blow up your computer, take Chessbase and do an opening report on 1. e4 or 1. d4, and see which one scores better, but even that means very little.
Originally posted by kmac27 what is better? it seems one side says e4 is better because white is able to quickly get to safety by castling. so what is the best move? i've heard from several players who were rated up near the highest say e4 is the best for white and the best reply is e5. hmm just something to argue about and i'd like to see some good comments to get a better footing on what i play.
whichever feels better for you is the correct answer. you'll always play better in the type of position you feel comfortable with. and don't be fooled by the old nonsense about e4 being aggressive and d4 passive either. I'm an aggressive player, and that's actually what got me playing d4, because I get the pressure on from move one.
I get a lot of timid players playing e4 against me, people who will settle for a draw. I suppose it's because they think playing e4 will make them aggressive. which of course it doesn't.
and I very much doubt anyone on our level has anything reasonable to say about any opening. I certainly don't. any opening can be made to work below master level, and possibly even on it.
Originally posted by Golub The truth is that 1. e4 is the best and you should always play it.
I disagree, I've been playing 1. Nf3 a lot lately in my games with white, especially against the higher rated opponents, and got some very nice and agressive position out of it. 1. d4 and 1. e4 aren't the only good possibilities...
Originally posted by Golub The truth is that 1. e4 is the best and you should always play it.
You know... a lot of chess 'scientists', if you like, say that is the truth... on the other hand, the imbalances of other openings are often just as good and e4 has about 19 different legitimate rivals at our level.
Actually it does not matters which opening to choose if you can get from opening playable position which you like to play and which you understand at least no worse than your opponent. - So its your individual choice.
After over 2 hours of analysis, strong chess programs like Fritz 10 or Rybka 1.3 suggests 1.d4, but thats just computer programs. I read this on some international master's website