I think 1. e4 should be better because 1. c4 doesn't open up the light-squared bishop, which is important to white.
But that is my opinion and I'm a lowly 1500-ish player, so you shouldn't really take advice from me.
e4 vs. c4?
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Apr 20, 2017
0
#3
Ummmmmmm I thought that d4 and e4 were the most popular moves.... Is the English attack actually that popular
Apr 20, 2017
0
#4
hmmm i don't know as long as we know not to play d4 because that controlls dark squares and although in the explorer it says white wins 39% vs e4s 38%(which would suggest near equal strength but d4 is slightly better) but this is obviously the government trying to get us to play d4.
Apr 20, 2017
0
#5
Where is the white pride? We should be proud to play on the white squares as white - who cares about the black squares?
e4!But I like fianchetto.I 'm not sure but I think e4!
Apr 20, 2017
0
#7
A motto you might use would be "white squares
matter!".
I hope this helps you remember.
Apr 20, 2017
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#9
Thank you gingerninja2003, this is why we don't play 1.f4, since we don't care about black squares. If we'd care about light squares, notice this wouldn't have happened.
C4 is preferred by trolls.
Apr 20, 2017
0
#11
Cherub well said about f4. and we know this is right because bobby Fischer (who is always right) said e4 is best by test (notice how e4 controlls the light squares). and if bobby Fischer says something about chess it must be true.
I usually prefer f4 as a starting move.
Cherub_Enjel wrote:
Yes, the two most popular openings at every level. White opens up with a center pawn, and either controls the d5 and f5 squares (with e4) or controls the d5 and b5 squares (with c4).
Naturally, white should care about the white squares, since that's the color white is playing, and not about the black squares, so we shouldn't look at moves like h4 and b4, which control dark squares.
If you consult the openings database, you quickly see that h4 and b4 score worse than c4 or e4.
But then, there's the dilemma between these moves. I don't know which one to pick.
What are your thoughts? Should white open with 1.c4 or 1.e4? This is the big question in chess, I believe.
But we should still look at a4, right?
Apr 20, 2017
0
#15
Yes, I suppose a4 is an option. It's not the best white option, but it's white, and as white, it's better than anything black.
Yes, the two most popular openings at every level. White opens up with a center pawn, and either controls the d5 and f5 squares (with e4) or controls the d5 and b5 squares (with c4).
Naturally, white should care about the white squares, since that's the color white is playing, and not about the black squares, so we shouldn't look at moves like h4 and b4, which control dark squares.
If you consult the openings database, you quickly see that h4 and b4 score worse than c4 or e4.
But then, there's the dilemma between these moves. I don't know which one to pick.
What are your thoughts? Should white open with 1.c4 or 1.e4? This is the big question in chess, I believe.