Antillian wrote on 01/17/09 at 12:51:58:


maybe Aagard should make a new book, winning with d5 according to Anand?!

wcywing wrote on 01/16/09 at 15:00:32:

Speaking about this maybe you did not read his interview in the atest NIC Magazine. There he and aso his seconds point that he decided to switch to 1.d4 ony because of the match strategy. And the reason is quite simpe - he did not want to pay positions which are more compatible with Kramnik's style - Petroff and Berlin. Thus he decided to switch to 1.d4 and to go for the sharpest Slav defence positions where Kramnik does not feel at his territory.
So I doubt if one of us have the same problem  .

looks like you don't need to try e4.  i guess most people start w/e4 then vary after that.  i almost always use e4, the few times i have done d4 is blitz games or when i feel like playing the BDG.   

d4 seems to be very popular now, especially with Anand winning wth d4.  i was kidding about the other stuff.  i always believe if its aint' broke, don't fix it.  i like e4 because of the tactical ability, but i don't like having to know everything under the sun.  d4 has its tactics and theory, just does not seem as much.  i was thinking about switching when an oppenent of expert strenght said i was being too risky in my play.  d4 seems to be safer for me; then again i was probaly not looking for tactics my opponent can do; common mistake.

Kowl wrote on 01/16/09 at 13:49:02:


maybe when you get tired of losing to the dutch    best reults are against KID?  did you help write beating the KID? and what variation did you help write?     the real reason to play e4 is ... Bobby Fischer does, best by test.

derdudea wrote on 01/16/09 at 11:47:35:


i heard 1.d4 refutes the Sicilian.   

OK, I've opened 1.d4 100% of my life. When should I switch to e4?

that makes things easy kinda; i stil like e4 but i like d4 because it is great against the french, sicilian, etc  .  i will probaly do 85% e4 and 15% d4.

I think it depends of your playing style. I also play 1.e4 in 95% of my white games, but sometimes I start the game with 1.d4, but this because of concrete preparation against the opponent.
A couple of weeks ago when reading recent book by Avrukh I thought that I should think seriously about switching from 1.e4 to 1.d4. At least it will be more easy to play. But after analysis of my style and weak and strong points at the end i decided to stay on 1.e4.
So saying it in business terms - before you decide you should make SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of your chess knowledge. Then it will be easy to answer the question whether the time for switching is coming or not.