Hey everyone, I’ve been playing chess for a while now, and I am struggling to decide which opening move to use: 1.e4 or 1.d4. I have played 1.e4 in the past and had great success with it, but lately, I have been experimenting with 1.d4, and it seems to be working for me as well.

However, I am having trouble finding a good repertoire to learn 1.d4 properly. one of the reasons I started experimenting with 1.d4 is that I feel like 1.e4 has too much theoretical studying to do. With 1.e4, you have to learn against all the major openings, such as all the Sicilian variations, the French, the Scandinavian, the Caro-Kann, and more. On the other hand, with 1.d4, there seems to be more flexibility in the opening lines, making it easier to avoid opening traps and surprises from your opponents.

For those of you who have experience playing both 1.e4 and 1.d4, what would you recommend? Which move do you prefer, and why? If you play 1.d4, do you have any tips for developing a good repertoire?

As for my play style, I tend to play the Caro-Kann and the Semi-Slav as black. So, if you have any suggestions that align with that, it would be much appreciated.

Thank you all in advance for your help!