I played 1.d4 when I first started playing at chess21.com. My rating jumped to about 1800 in a couple of days. I switched over to 1.e4 for a few days. My rating took a dive to about 1550. I have since started playing my old faithful 1.d4 and my rating is climbing again. The Scholar's Mate is useful only against those who are unable to see basic threats and/or have never seen it before. If your head is almost completely made of bone, you might consider 1.d4 wimpy or boring but people who actually like to play chess there is a definite choice on how to open the game.
I have played 1.e4 more than 1.d4, but as I mature, I'm learning to prefer 1.d4. Hence this thread.
According to my database, I've played 1.e4 5519 times, and scored 54%. In these games, I've faced 1...c5 2066 times, and 1...e6 592 times. I still score 54% against each. However, in my 3535 games that I opened with 1.d4, my score is better: 57%.
Against 1.e4, which I've faced 7680 times, I've scored 55% both with 1...c5 (3507 games) and with 1...e6 (2284 games). Against 1.d4, I fare as well.
BTW, New in Chess has gathered data from top level games over many years, and they show that 1.d4 scores better than 1.e4, unless you exclude 1...c5, in which case 1.e4 scores better. So, all I've done here is add the French to the general claim that 1.d4 is better.
The popularity of the exchange variation against the French reveals the degree of fear of the French of many 1.e4 players.
Originally posted by cludiI play d4, but I'm not here to claim that it's superior. It's just a matter of style. However, I agree that your choice shows a bit about your style. e4 players want to go right for the attack, want to win quickly, decisively, or brilliantly. These are flashy, confident, impatient people. d4 shows a more patient approach. We want to win a slow, positional game without taking much risk.
1.e4 is signalling primitive human hunting instincts - go for the kill immediately.
1.d4 is signalling the modern, sophisticated approach - try to overcome your opponent through superior positional play or through opponent exhaustion due to boring play...
I certainly prefer 1.e4
But what about c4? Or Nf3? I think the latter shows an inability, or a reluctance to decide. I play this move quite often myself.
Originally posted by ark13I've seen titled players open with 1.Nf3 before. I believe the idea is to cut down on Black's choice of openings - if you begin 1.e4, you could be facing sicilians, caros, frenchs, double KP, etc. etc. With 1.Nf3, you can transpose into other openings as you choose. The only downside (for me, at least) is that it seems 1.Nf3 players end up playing the English opening often.
I play d4, but I'm not here to claim that it's superior. It's just a matter of style. However, I agree that your choice shows a bit about your style. e4 players want to go right for the attack, want to win quickly, decisively, or brilliantly. These are flashy, confident, impatient people. d4 shows a more patient approach. We want to win a slow, positi ...[text shortened]... the latter shows an inability, or a reluctance to decide. I play this move quite often myself.
Originally posted by BigDoggProblemI didn't mean it was bad, just that it showed some indecisiveness. But I really like it.
I've seen titled players open with 1.Nf3 before. I believe the idea is to cut down on Black's choice of openings - if you begin 1.e4, you could be facing sicilians, caros, frenchs, double KP, etc. etc. With 1.Nf3, you can transpose into other openings as you choose. The only downside (for me, at least) is that it seems 1.Nf3 players end up playing the English opening often.
Originally posted by no1marauderI found the following figures a few months ago, but can't remember where. In all the world championship matches from 1886 to 1990, the most common opening first move was d4 (364 times), the next most common was e4 (275 times), and all others totalled only 105. I suggest that no1marauder's and zebano's (Bah, both 1.e4 and 1.d4 suck), disparaging remarks about people who play 1. e4 are hardly justified, as these include such players as Steinitz, Lasker, Alekhine, and Tal, all noted for aggressive play.
Actually both. 1 d4 is for those who like knitting and other painfully boring pastimes; 1 e4 is for those who want to play real chess.