How do you respond to 1. e4?

I'm just curious as to why people play different moves. When you have the black pieces, what's your favorite response to 1. e4 and why?

Personally I love the French Defense (1... e6) because it opens up the Queen and dark-square Bishop but also allows me to push d5 and normally c5 even.

I usually go with 1… e6 because it feels better to take the center more directly and it's easily defensible.

This post makes me realize that I should study openings. 

I'm also a fan of the French Defense (1. ... e6). I used to play 1. ... e5, but there are too many different openings your opponent can throw at you in double king's pawn games, some of which are quite tactical, so you really need to know what you're doing. In the French, you get the same basic pawn structures over and over, so it's easy to play once you're used to it, even if white goes for a weird variation.

In 90% cases with c6, the Caro-Kann. I prefer a slower more solid game and the opening fits me. You don't really have to commit to anything too early and you can just focus on preserving the pawn structure. It has a reputation of being somewhat boring, but it can really pack a punch and it is versatile enough to play for a win. It definitely is not for more aggressive and tactical players. In other 10% I play the Sicilian, sometimes e5, you get bored playing the same thing over and over again, so it's nice to sometimes mess around.

Scandinavian Defense (1.e4 d5) is relatively 'easy' to learn compared to other defenses, and is perfectly viable, especially at the amateur level.  Several GMs do venture it on occasion, even Magnus Carlsen - here vs Fabiano Caruana in 2014, 3...Qd8 variation....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j13SjlmDUC8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGadAjrsaY0

I recommend the 3...Qd8 variation as the safest/simplest....

Chessable courses on the Scandinavian.....all are on the 3...Qd8 variation.....

https://www.chessable.com/chess-openings/s/scandinavian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fEkJsfbQWM

a brief description of the 3...Qd8 variation....you will first have to be logged in (free) to Chessable to view this page...

https://www.chessable.com/variation/113941/

Scandinavian Defense 3...Qd8 - 'Hanging Pawns' video.....good...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_f7oAbE6q0

more on 3...Qd8 Scandi.....

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scandinavian+defense+qd8

The 3...Qd8 Scandinavian: Simple and Strong by Daniel Lowinger...

https://www.amazon.com/Qd8-Scandinavian-Simple-Strong/dp/1936490765/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+3...Qd8+Scandinavian%3A+Simple+and+Strong&qid=1582095316&s=books&sr=1-1

also check out...

Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond

I usually start with d6 because it facilitates e4 attacks....

"'Black proclaims by his symmetrical reply 1...e5 his firm decision to cross swords as quickly as possible with his adversary and (in spite of 'the move') to meet him on an equal footing in the centre of the board, whereas a passive reply such as King's or Queen's Fianchetto (1...g6 or 1...b6) would allow White to occupy the centre immediately and for good by 2 d4.'
'After the typical moves 1 e4 e5 we frequently see a lively struggle, seeking in particular to gain the mastery in the centre.'
'Each move in the initial stage must be telling, in other words, it must contain some threat of an immediate nature (attack on a pawn, an effective pin of a piece, unpinning, counter-attack, etc.), and a game of chess of this type resembles an encounter between two fencers where thrust and parry follow and offset each other.'
Savielly Tartakower (A Breviary of Chesss)
1...e5 is arguably the simplest and most logical reply to 1 e4, taking space in the centre and opening diagonals for the queen and bishop. It has been played by every world champion in the history of the game, and many of them played nothing else. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627031152/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ebcafe10.pdf

"... As Black, I think that [players with very limited experience] would do well … playing 1...e5 versus 1 e4 …" - IM John Watson (2010)

1. e4 c5. The Sicilian Defense. According to the free database I have, it is the most common response to e4. It works fairly well, but it takes a long time to learn.

resigns

No, the best response to e4 is to offer your opponent A resignation.

Sasha Grishuk was talking about how he did that as a kid when he was commentating the WCC

#thuglife

I play the Sicilian against 1. d4.

But I played the French Defense against it for about 20 years.

I recommend eveeybody learn the French Defense as black. There is a lot you can learn on how to play defensively in cramped positions. There is almost an elegant art to manuvering your pieces in a cramped defensive position  where you over extend your opponent's offence...

...then POUNCE on your opponent the moment his attack peters out. It's not about playing defensive moves.. it's about, if given a choice on how to defend your opponent's last move, to choose a move that gives you the best opportunity turn that move into a later offense.

-the general rule of thumb is to pick a defensive move that DEVELOPS a piece. Just as simple as that. 

For example, if your oppenent is attacking and you have an equal choice between a pawn move that weakens your pawn structure or bringing out a knight from it's starting position: CHOOSE THE KNIGHT.

Equal means both moves are won't weaken your position at the moment.

???

Elephant Gambit 4vr

c5

Najdorf.

Because it occasionally gives me games like this one:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/a-heroic-defense-in-the-sicilian-najdorf-kids-dont-try-this-at-home