@jvs:
I wasn't saying somehow Black players have more experience in the main lines than White players. Obviously the same applies both ways, as you say.
However, what I meant was that because the open games are more complicated and both players tend to have more options to really blunder in the transition to the middle game, I personally feel at our level e4 openings give Black the advantage because we're "on their turf" as the OP mentioned. I rarely find myself anything less than equal out of the opening in d4 lines. The games are more likely to be equal, yes, but I think its harder to lose the initiative, and it's far more likely to find some sort of main line because the sidelines actually necessitate a greater deal of deep positional knowledge. So having just a little opening theory allows someone to punish someone for playing something original.
In e4 lines, however, often many forced captures quickly break open the game and give Black a strong counterattack early that must be dealt with. And the sidelines, and even original lines can be still be quite dangerous even if you understand the basic theory. It's only my observations though. Maybe other players at our level find it easier to punish bad lines in open games and are completely lost in the d4 lines. It's likely a matter of preference at just about any level of play.
I wasn't saying somehow Black players have more experience in the main lines than White players. Obviously the same applies both ways, as you say.
However, what I meant was that because the open games are more complicated and both players tend to have more options to really blunder in the transition to the middle game, I personally feel at our level e4 openings give Black the advantage because we're "on their turf" as the OP mentioned. I rarely find myself anything less than equal out of the opening in d4 lines. The games are more likely to be equal, yes, but I think its harder to lose the initiative, and it's far more likely to find some sort of main line because the sidelines actually necessitate a greater deal of deep positional knowledge. So having just a little opening theory allows someone to punish someone for playing something original.
In e4 lines, however, often many forced captures quickly break open the game and give Black a strong counterattack early that must be dealt with. And the sidelines, and even original lines can be still be quite dangerous even if you understand the basic theory. It's only my observations though. Maybe other players at our level find it easier to punish bad lines in open games and are completely lost in the d4 lines. It's likely a matter of preference at just about any level of play.