e4 opening recommendation

I play Ruy Lopez as main opening for white (almost 2y) but problem is that it's too complex and there isn't high chance opponent play is. I know some lines but not much besides it. I was quite successfull when I was rated 1400-1700 but now I want some change. I want something for white like Caro-Kann (for black). When white plays e4 I play CK and he cannot avoid it and it's pretty straightforward with clear plans and ideas. I want something similar for white. I don't want to face some weird openings when I play e4 and I want to avoid some openings too (like French and Caro-Kann, I hate these openings when I play white).

I'm not sure that 1. e4 is the right choice if you are looking for simple plans that your opponent cannot avoid. You might want to look into the London, Catalan, Nimzo-Larsen, King's Indian Attack.

You could play the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation, which is less complicated. However, I tried it recently and concluded that it is not as good as the Main Line Ruy Lopez.

1.Nf3 Very flexible, you can convert it to many openings

At your level, the main problem in openings is usually developing a strategically sound plan for the middlegame. Learning that is essential for breaking the 2000 barrier, and there is no opening that lets you avoid this step. I would say that the Ruy Lopez is a very good opening to play at this level (and above), because the development and piece placement is very natural.

I would suggest perhaps buying a book or watch some videos about the opening, with the intention of building an understandment for the opening. You could also go over some grandmaster games, there are tons of them!

@MessyAnswer said in #2:
> I'm not sure that 1. e4 is the right choice if you are looking for simple plans that your opponent cannot avoid. You might want to look into the London, Catalan, Nimzo-Larsen, King's Indian Attack.
Catalan looks interesting, Magnus started playing it recently, I think I will study that first, then see how it goes. Also NL nad KIA are interesting, I'm familiar with KID so it won't be problem for me to learn KIA. I tried London a long time ago but I don't like it at all.

@malek_4000 said in #4:
> 1.Nf3 Very flexible, you can convert it to many openings
The thing is that I only know to play Ruy and QG, nothing else. Maybe a bit Alapin (for Sicilian) and Petrov defence (I was kinda forced since I play Ruy lol). I mean I'm not lost in the every other opening, I just don't know lines and I can make some mistake early

@NNWill said in #3:
> You could play the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation, which is less complicated. However, I tried it recently and concluded that it is not as good as the Main Line Ruy Lopez.
I came to that conclusion too. I was playing that line when I was around 1500 then I avoided it completely

@vimun said in #5:
> At your level, the main problem in openings is usually developing a strategically sound plan for the middlegame. Learning that is essential for breaking the 2000 barrier, and there is no opening that lets you avoid this step. I would say that the Ruy Lopez is a very good opening to play at this level (and above), because the development and piece placement is very natural.
>
> I would suggest perhaps buying a book or watch some videos about the opening, with the intention of building an understandment for the opening. You could also go over some grandmaster games, there are tons of them!
That's why I love Caro-Kann for black. I know exactly what to do in the middlegame. Ruy is in the beginning easy but when I go into the middlegame then it becomes complex. Yeah I was watching videos and studying a bit then I realized that I don't want to invest so much time in the opening that I won't enter very often and it's complicated.

Personally, I love the Vienna Gambit. The plans are simple and a lot of people are unfamiliar with it and fall into some of the traps. I am a lot lower rated than you so I can't tell you how effective it is at your level but I have played it for years now and have rarely gotten a bad position out of the opening.

- this study basically every line in the Vienna and features everything from how to punish mistakes and how to play against the best defenses.

You want a system opening.
Look up the Jobava London.

@TakeThePawnOrLose said in #7:
> Personally, I love the Vienna Gambit. The plans are simple and a lot of people are unfamiliar with it and fall into some of the traps. I am a lot lower rated than you so I can't tell you how effective it is at your level but I have played it for years now and have rarely gotten a bad position out of the opening.
>
>
> - this study basically every line in the Vienna and features everything from how to punish mistakes and how to play against the best defenses.
I tried Vienna 1y ago but problem is that it occurs rarely so for me not worth investing time but it's good

@jesgluckner said in #8:
> You want a system opening.
> Look up the Jobava London.
I just checked. It's very transpositional which I don't want. It can transpose to Caro-Kann, French, Pirc..big no-no

Is it?

I don't see how you transpose into French or CK if you don't transpose back into it yourself, just don't go 2.e4 if they play 1...c6 or e6.

For me there are really only two variations in the Jobava London.
When they play d5 and when they don't.
The first is just regular Jobava London stuff. The later will most likely take you into the Pirc. But that shouldn't be a let down anyway.

Rather than being frightened of openings and avoiding them, you should try to understand them.
Because there is no opening where you will always be in your comfort zone.