user4348: I am relatively a new chess player and been improving my strength in the opening for a while and would like to know which opening is the most defensive. 1.e5 seems a little too aggressive.

user16692: One chess opening you can use is the Hedgehog formation, it is very defensive if you are playing black. Black exchanges a pawn on c5 for a white pawn on d4 and then places his pawns on a6, b6 and e6. The bishops are placed on b7 and e7, then the knights are placed on d7 and f6, the queen is on c7 and the rooks on c8 and e8. This position is cramped, however it has great defensive capabilities.
[FEN "2r1r1k1/1bqnbppp/pp1ppn2/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]


user2429: This is a subjective question, so I'll give a subjective answer. In my opinion, the Hippopotamus Defense is the most defensive opening. Here's a typical Hippopotamus structure - 
   [FEN "r2qk2r/pbpnnpbp/1p1pp1p1/8/2PPP3/2N1BN2/PP2BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 0 9"]

Black doesn't even move a pawn to the 4th rank! All of Black's minor pieces are developed on the second rank and Black keeps his pawns on the third rank. Essentially, Black plays a waiting game for a while, and tries to provoke White into doing something concrete and then Black reacts accordingly. 
P.S. Since you're a beginner, I would advise NOT to use this opening. Yes, it is the most defensive opening, but if you're afraid of playing 1...e5 then you ought to first correct that instead of trying to play something else! Even with 1...e5, Black can reach defensive setups. 

4348: <p>I am relatively a new chess player and been improving my strength in the opening for a while and would like to know which opening is the most defensive. 1.e5 seems a little too aggressive.</p>
 16692: <p>One chess opening you can use is the Hedgehog formation, it is very defensive if you are playing black. Black exchanges a pawn on c5 for a white pawn on d4 and then places his pawns on a6, b6 and e6. The bishops are placed on b7 and e7, then the knights are placed on d7 and f6, the queen is on c7 and the rooks on c8 and e8. This position is cramped, however it has great defensive capabilities.</p>
<pre><code>[FEN &quot;2r1r1k1/1bqnbppp/pp1ppn2/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1&quot;]
</code></pre>
 2429: <p>This is a subjective question, so I'll give a subjective answer. In my opinion, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippopotamus_Defence" rel="nofollow">Hippopotamus Defense</a> is the most defensive opening. Here's a typical Hippopotamus structure - </p>

<pre><code>   [FEN "r2qk2r/pbpnnpbp/1p1pp1p1/8/2PPP3/2N1BN2/PP2BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 0 9"]
</code></pre>

<p>Black doesn't even move a pawn to the 4th rank! All of Black's minor pieces are developed on the second rank and Black keeps his pawns on the third rank. Essentially, Black plays a waiting game for a while, and tries to provoke White into doing something concrete and then Black reacts accordingly. </p>

<p>P.S. <em>Since you're a beginner, <strong>I would advise NOT to use this opening</strong>. Yes, it is the most defensive opening, but if you're afraid of playing 1...e5 then you ought to first correct that instead of trying to play something else! Even with 1...e5, Black can reach defensive setups.</em> </p>
