E4 or D4?

What opening is better?

In our opinion, E4 is better than D4. E4 invites more open games and is very flexible. You learn more tactics and you have sharp positions that could never be found in D4 openings for example, the Najdorf Sicilian, is one of the most sharpest, double edged, and exciting opening known to humanity, it is a perfect playground to train tactics. The Queen’s gambit declined will never be able the match the sharpness of the Najdorf Sicilian. Openings like the Scotch create rich battlegrounds with imbalances. The Scotch opens up lines and aims to aggressively seize the centre away from black. Beginner and Intermediate players are able to think more creatively in open positions.

Why is E4 more “open” then D4

When you play E4 E5, the option of the D4 pawn break is a possibility, for example, the scotch and Danish openings. Whereas, in D4 D5 openings the E4 pawn break doesn’t really exist, unless you play the Blackmardiemer gambit, which isn’t the best opening. Same thing with D4 Nf6 openings, E4 is prevented by the knight on f6. In most D4 Nf6 openings like the Nimzo-Indian defense you are trying to play for E4, but whether you are able to is a different story. D4 tends to support very deep positional thinking, something that is for later. E4 however, rapidly creates open lines and is very sharp and tactical

My favourite thing about 1. e4

In E4 there is a good range of positions you can get. If you like manuevering you can try the Ruy Lopez. However my favourite thing about 1. e4 is… THE GAMBITS! After E4 aggression is completed, we’ll be working on the White and Black Gambits repertoire. With D4 there aren’t a lot of gambits. There is the Queen’s gambit, but it isn’t really a true gambit because White will often win the the pawn back fairly easily. A lot of the other D4 gambits aren’t really good or popular, so if you’re like me and you’re an aggressive player, you can play E4 aggression or the White Gambits repertoire. Also spoilers, we’ll be recommending the Smith-Morra Gambit against the Sicilian in our upcoming White Gambits repertoire. I love 1. e4

Let’s summarize

E4 in our opinion is better than D4 because it results in more open lines and is good to train your tactical vision. E4 gives you aggressive options and gives you dynamic attacks. You have multiple gambits in 1. E4 whereas you have almost no true gambits in D4 openings. So please play 1. e4!

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