Should I play e3 or e4 in 1.d4 openings? A common dilemma explained in detail.

In this video I explain when to play for e4 and when to settle for e3 in various d4 openings.

[@kp_devendra]

This channel provides the best quality chess education on KZbin, and I say this after watching dozens of chess teachers on this platform. This is easily the best place to get no nonsense, to the point, well explained chess knowledge. More power to you man!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks Phil, I am very glad you like the content!

[@Zotnamm]

Facts

[@jimjohnson373]

Thank you, I have looked at many of your videos, I am totally self taught, reached about 2300 about 20years ago, gave up playing until 2021, found your videos, why didn't I discover you in the 80's. Thanks again

[@johnnydoe3603]

KZbin finally Recommended this Video. What a Beautiful Explanation 😍

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Glad you liked it!

[@bradleyreese5156]

Totally agree, best instruction on the internet!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks a lot, very kind!

[@darrylkassle361]

One of the best

[@tedesposito3238]

I have really been enjoying these thematic 1.d4 videos recently. Unlike the other recent ones, however, for this one I was a little mystified by the title! "If you can play e4, shouldn't you just do it? What's the question?" I had to laugh when that basically turned out to be your answer. 🙂 I was a lifelong 1. e4 player, but I have recently switched to 1. d4, and wanted to share my own thoughts about the difference. In 1. e4 openings, yes you can usually play d4 without too much work, since it's already supported by the queen. However (!), although it may not always be the right call, black usually has the option to immediately liquidate the center with exd4 or cxd4. My feeling is that it was actually pretty uncommon for me to play 1. e4 positions where I would have both pawns on e4 and d4 for more than just a move or two. In part, that's because it's usually not so good to play the pawn to f4 to displace the e5 pawn. By very strong contrast, in 1. d4 openings, I have been noticing that (as you say) it takes a little more work to get e4 in, but more importantly once you do you usually have both pawns on d4 and e4 for a long time (or even better, you get to start pushing them forward!). And in fact, if Black can't (or doesn't) challenge the center with c5 or e5, this becomes by far the dominant strategic feature of the position. This is largely because 2. c4 (or 3. c4, in your repertoire) is a great move that will often displace the d5 pawn eventually (if it's even there in the first place!). I switched to 1. d4 partly just to get more experience playing those positions. I was finding that, as a 1. e4 player myself, 90% or more of my online games started with e4, and I didn't really know too much about 1. d4. I could never really pick my favorite response to d4, since I didn't know those positions too well, and didn't get to play them very often (also, most of my experience against d4 amounted to just playing against the London.). But in reading through master games, I kept finding that it seemed like the positions after 1. d4 have much more strategic variety than 1. e4 positions (with no fewer attacking chances, by the way! As you've emphasized many times.). So I decided to give it a try from the white side to build some experience, and to be honest I have not looked back even for a moment! Okay, okay.. I do miss the open Sicilians a little, but I play a few of them as Black at least, so I still get my Sicilian fix so long as White doesn't play 2. c3 or GPA. Anyway, I'm not sure if it's really true that there's more strategic variety after d4, but if it is, I claim the reason is that, since White can maintain the pawn center as a long-term positional feature after 1. d4, Black has to get pretty creative to find ways to unbalance the position not to just suffocate in front of the stable center. Whereas, after 1. e4, Black doesn't have to unbalance the position if they don't want to. I also claim this is why d4 system openings that don't try to establish a pawn center are bad-- it completely lets Black off the hook so they don't have to create imbalances. In my opinion, d4 players who don't have a deep gut reaction about whether to push e3 or e4 if both are possible should consider adding 1. e4 to their repertoire (at least in online blitz) for a little while. I think this could give some real clarity as to just how nice the mainline 1. d4 positions actually are! (I assume your e4 chessable course is a great and compact way to go about this. I have found that your 1. d4 course is an excellent start for someone looking to switch the other way, and I have no doubt the same is true of your e4 course.)

[@KeepChessSimple]

I also switched from 1.e4 to 1.d4 and one thing I liked is that the book 'Chess Structures' became like 80% more usefull. A mainline d4 repertoire has all these classical pawn structures you can learn. Learn the pawn structure, learn the plans.

[@tedesposito3238]

@@KeepChessSimple Ditto for Winning Chess Middlegames by Sokolov, which by the way I would also recommend for new d4 players who play (or plan to play) against the Nimzo-Indian. The first chapter covers Nimzo type doubled-pawn positions, which are not covered in Chess Structures at all. This book is a bit harder than Chess Structures in my opinion, due to overly extensive (and sometimes seemingly unmotivated) analysis, but still a similar and very good resource.

[@amistake850]

I love this channel

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thank, appreciate it!

[@gmUkko]

Very educational, thanks.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Hey Ukko, thanks for the comment! Based on your understanding of the game, I am sure you will adjust very quickly to d4. If anything, I reckon it will suit you more! Keep me posted!

[@Nemtomi]

Köszönjük, András bácsi! Kiváló, mint mindig!

[@kesetokaiba]

Nice explanation. I play 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Central Variation with White if Black accepts the Queen's Gambit. This is simply by repertoire, so I'm always looking to play e4. I agree that the exceptions when e3 is better are few and far between versus when e4 is better. The only valid reason I could see for someone playing e3 is if they want a solid (although less ambitious) position as that is what happens with e3 in the Normal Queen's Gambit Accepted Variation lines. I agree with GM Lars Schandorff that e4 requires a little more theory to learn, but that is a small price to pay (more like "investment) to play a bit more ambitiously. Let's take the center! :)

[@CastroMKE]

honestly the only reason I never used to play e4 even when I would feel it was the best move, is because I almost never played any 1. e4 openings and the fear of going into uncharted territory kept me from doing it. I started playing kings gambits and spanish ruys vs the computer and they really beat me down, but now the fear of playing e4 is gone. All these things are thanks to you in one of your old videos you said play different structures and learn different plans so you can bring them back to your opening. Very good advice.

[@CastroMKE]

you just blew my mind, 3:24 is spot on, the whole game I am preparing this e4 push typically and here I am in positions where I can just play e4 and not taking the opportunity lmao This is why I need a coach, simple things like tht seem so obscure to us 1200s

[@ShinySalamence1]

Didn't know super-liking was a thing now on youtube. I think an issue that a lot of people have is determining if e5 is a legitimate threat for black against e4. Of course, a lot of people are simply too lazy to calculate, but I do know that if black errs a bit in the semi-slav, then there are times where e5 is playable for black but it weakens the a2-g8 diagonal too much. And of course, sometimes you have semi-slav positions in some anti-meran where e5 looks to simply lose a pawn but it looks like black has sufficient compensation and there's a bunch of different lines of which many are simply unclear. The same can be said for white's e4 push in many anti-merans, I think.

[@Xmask19]

thanks for the video andras

[@EdoChess]

I was wondering about this just recently - thank you.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

My pleasure

[@chesst4033]

This is a question I have never asked, but I learned a lot about pawn play and the center from it....

[@jacksontranz9161]

Your a freaking badass teacher bro PERIOD, and thanks

[@bluefin.64]

Another snappy and instructive video from one of the very best chess KZbinrs.

[@stuarthayward4756]

Top notch content, thank-you Andras.

[@Mike-cp1tj]

e4 for the lengendario CENTAH

[@rumpelRAINS]

Great video

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Cheers

[@KeepChessSimple]

Love these pawn structure video's! This educational stuff is the true you! Keep it at, the views will come...One thing I wouldn't mind is video's of you playing Blitz. (maybe playing your Chessable repertoires?). Since people are obsessed with openings, put the opening name in the title and people will find your channel. John Bartholomew and ChessExplained also had a lot of succes with this in the past. This way you can lure people in and have watch them the more quality/educational stuff. You can just pick your favorite games from your stream, so no extra recording required, only some editing.

[@ianprittie5453]

Best chess channel ever! Buy his courses too. Total game changer.

[@WeThin]

New Andras video, today is a good day

[@NickVisel]

great video Andras!!

[@elephantheart9988]

My general guideline: if you don't know what to play, in any position, e3 is a solid move. Always e3.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

My problem with that mentality is that its very passive and its core idea is that e3 is played to not to lose. Whereas e4 is played to win! And btw, as explained in the video, it is extremely rare that e4 is playable and is inferior.

[@noxnc]

Another great video.

[@joeperry1188]

This is such excellent content

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks! Glad you like the content

[@raincatchfire]

Great lecture, thanks!

[@timblizzard4226]

I play e3 by default. It just seems much more solid and comforting somehow.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Sadly, it is a bad habit you need to shake off if you want to improve.

[@simonhinkel4086]

Hello Coach! Thanks for the Video again :) In the same spirit, could you also cover a similar topic as when to play for e5 or d5 in d6-e6 sicilians? Whenever i play any of them, my engine tells me 'when you have two choices, always chose the other one'😁

[@ngamer3k]

As a d4 player, I appreciate this video.

[@angel_machariel]

Excellent content. Maybe, by extension, coach Andras could spend a video on techniques for fighting for the centre, or if not possible, techniques of counter-punching. For example here, white is not going to have a stake in the centre for a long time: rn1qkb1r/pp3ppp/2p1pn2/3p4/6bN/3P2P1/PPP1PPBP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq -

[@ChessCoachAndras]

The idea is thoroughly covered in chessable course called Center

[@angel_machariel]

@@ChessCoachAndras Maybe I underestimated the course due to a (perceived) lack of examples per subject and not helping me to figure out how to set goals. I shall take a look at it again.

[@framebadger]

You asked for comments so... Simon WIlliams/GingerGM has an old d4 course called killer d4. It's very aggressive and at times dubious but it's willing often to sacrifice a pawn or two to get e4 (often e5 as well) in, open lines and attack. Anti-Moscow, Marshall Gambit, stuff like that. Because lots of d4 players are a bit nervous about playing e4, and also often materialistic, it's a pretty good way of seeing what kind of play is possible within d4. Even if you go for safer lines, when your opponent plays a lemon and lets you get e4 for free you'll at least get a better version of one of something you've seen there.

[@francisvelarde9350]

Another useful upload

[@ClarbsUFD]

Wonderful explanation, thanks!

[@gusserflys]

always the best coach..!!!

[@Eigen0121]

always super like 👍👍👍

[@victorfinberg8595]

very nicely explained

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@isaakvandaalen3899]

I remember having this question when I reviewed QGA engine analysis and it said 1.d4, d5 2.c4, dxc4... 3.e4 was better than 3.e3 despite the fact that 3.e3 was still a very popular move at the high levels of the game. This made little sense to me as surely GMs would be playing the optimal moves so early on in the game. I guess it just leads to a different sort of game and structure, and so they're playing 3.e3 to transpose to more familiar structures? IDK, I'm playing e4 every time. If they're gonna give the the center who am I to say no?

[@concool770]

Great video thanks Andras

[@mrengler1]

i've wondered about the Nf3 QGA as well, so that was very helpful! how would you alter the rule about e4 if it's captured? for example, in the QGD if black delays Nf6, then the e4 move is not stopped. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 (Be7 or a6) 4. e4

[@songcaller]

e3 is fun to hide the next move in bishop sacrifice...e4 is serious play to study kings gambit

[@RedGaming23]

Great content as always

[@mithranpradeepkumar309]

Hello Andras, this was another amazing video, definitely learnt something new! At 10:48, How does White respond to black's ideas of c5 and breaking white's center, it is coming under fire

[@ryanoneal8480]

In the Reti Gambit, if black accepts the pawn on c4, why does the computer like e3 over e4?

[@Australianchessplayer]

I played 1 d4 once in human memory, much to the surprise of my opponent. I correctly expected a KID in response. I have played 1 g3 and 1 Nf3 more often.

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

So, what about Reti players? Kf3 then e3 or Kf3 then e4? The rationale behind e3 is that it immediately supports both c4 and d4 on the next moves, more or less whatever black plays. Any opinions?

[@jeroenw9853]

The problem I have with playing e4 early in d4 openings is that it can transpose easily into e4 openings, e.g. 2. c3 3. e4 = Caro Kann and the 2. e3 3. e4 French. There are 2 problems with this: 1) I am not an e4 player, otherwise I would've played 1. e4 2) The opponent is more knowledgeable in e4 openings.

[@joeshmo546]

Haha this is something I've actually questioned in my own games, as a queens gambit player

[@5daydreams]

What about e3 on the London System??

[@vivalakid]

[@euhype802]

Even for 1. d4 players, e4 is still best by test!

[@lowtherlars]

The answer is neither, until you have played c4.

[@bored2417]

g6 better

[@tonyaldridge8917]

Wonderful stuff and thanks so much 👍🙏🍺🫖🎃