The Hedgehog v. 1.e4?

Hello, Chess.com. I have just recently registered as a member to this site, although I have done a lot of searching through the forums and the like before. I have just started to "really" study chess (meaning that I am devoting more time to it, not that I haven't really studied before) and I am planning to go to a few tournaments this summer. I have a very good idea of how to play my white openings but I have struggled to find a black opening I can really enjoy. I have a  zeal for study when researching the benko gambit and a few other responses to d4 and c4 but I find almost all responses to e4 to be completely and utterly boring. I tried the latvian gambit but my results have been less than satisfactory. I have recently stubbled onto The Hedgehog. Is it a viable option to 1. e4?

My perusing through your databases and forums have found little information to help me come up with a successful conclusion. I have read that hedgehog style defenses can transpose after 1...c5 but I have played 1...d6 and then 2...g6 and obtained a better position with a later push to c5.

The study I have done doesn't seem to do justice to this, potentially, universal system. I was wondering if any hedgehog players on this site could help me out with my study. Or, for the critics, point me in the direction of a fun response to e4.

Thanks, -Lane TIOBE 

Look into the Kan Variation of the Sicilian and Study Maroczy Bind structures.

The simple thing to say is the Hedgehog is defined by c5 and the Bc8 fianchetto. White usually plays 1.c4 and exchanges the black c5 pawn with d4. So how to enter this after 1.e4?

LavaRook: It's funny you mention the Maroczy Bind structure v. The Hedgehog because that was where I first became very interested in it.

Dutchday: Thanks for the insight! From what I've read the hedgehog is highlighted by pawns occupying the a6,b6,d6 and e6. Am I correct?

Unfortunatly, I am not able to see the 4th comment in this thread that chess.com says is there. Cool.

It isn't that important. There are lines in the Sicilian and the English which are often called the Hedgehog, because white has played e4, d4 and e4 with the exchange cxd in it. In the diagram I gave black could carry on with a6, d6 and e6, sure. I think what is relevant is, you don't play it if you don't have to. In the Maroczy black is planning on attacking e4 or c4. If white never plays c4, there is no target, and moreover, no reason to play the insipid b6.

Dutchday: That looks a lot like my najdorf plans. Sounds like a good idea.

Estragon: I completely agree with you that universal systems take away from the game. I would specifically want to put the hedgehog in my arsenal for black because of my lack of good e4 openings. I certainly don't want to pretend that one opening will get me out of every snag.

That works for me.

Hey Lane-TIOBE, 

I'd ask if you're more comfortable with highly positional games or wild tactical games? With 1.e4 you can't go wrong learning the Ruy opening. All the GM's know it so there are some viable options and high flexibility with the Ruy.