user21110: When defending against 1. e4, I'm a French Defense player. I enjoy the French Defense very much, and my win rate with it is fairly good. Lately, though, I've been wanting to explore new defenses, only to spice my game up (I'm getting bored of the typical positions that come out of the french, as wild as some of them may be).
I consider the french to be solid, yet not flexible. By this I mean that the usual French setups are hard to break and resilient, but offer little strategical freedom (this is, there are few logical strategical plans that actually fit the position). It is as if I'm playing all my games with the same two or three long-term plans, not because of lack of imagination, but because this are the plans that usually emerge as logical in the typical positions.
In opposition to this, I'm looking for a new defense that prioritizes flexibility above all, even if not as solid as the french.  An opening that offers a wide variety of strategical ideas and creative play. The Sicilian is a candidate, but there are too many variations to learn and I'm not interested on it at the moment. I'm considering also the Pirc Defense, which I believe to be also flexible enough. 
Can anyone recommend a flexible defense against 1. e4? Comments on the mere ideas of flexibility/solidity in the defensive setup are welcome too, as of course these relates to the actual question.

user21014: I see your point clearly and I was once in your place as well in deciding the right opening for me. I would hate to choose the character of the position over objectivity. There are only 4 objectively sound replies to 1. e4. Those being 1...e5, 1...e6, 1...c5, and 1...c6. All the others are in theory suboptimal. I would say that the best way to get a flexible position is to not contest the center with the pawns and the most extreme version of this is the Hippo(Not the best choice). If you got good results with the french you should also with the Caro-Kann and it's a little more flexible. Remember to choose objectivity over character.

user14202: I recommend e6 Sicilians.  You could even use the move order 1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5.  There are a lot of transpositional possibilities.   If you look at some great player who played the French a lot, see what other defense they used;  Petrosian for example.
It is important to have some Sicilian understanding and if you are in a must win situation against a White player who wants a draw then the Sicilian is a must. 
What you play against d4 openings could also steer your choice.  For example, if you play the King's Indian Defense, then Pirc/Modern lines could have some knowledge overlap.  If you play the Slav, then the Caro-Khan makes since...
Another important element is what will you enjoy studying.  Personally I played the Najdorf Sicilian exclusively for a long time, but I loved Tiger's Modern (a repertoire book by Tiger Hillarp Persson) so much I adopted the Modern (There is a newer edition called The Modern Tiger).
here is a recent book with good reviews for you:
The Sicilian Taimanov (Grandmaster Repertoire)
by Antonios Pavlidis | Sep 7, 2019

user17425: It sounds like you are drawn to the pirc so try it out and see.  The pirc/modern is very flexible and if you play the king's indian that you can transpose into that if White plays c4 to make a universal system.  
I like the fluidity of being able to see how my opponent sets up first and then respond.  I like the dynamic potential.  Rather than backward black's position feels like a "coiled spring" ready to lash out.  I haven't been blown off the board with e2-e4-e5 and h2-h4-h5 in a while so I think I am getting the hang of the direct assault lines.  

21110: <p>When defending against 1. e4, I'm a French Defense player. I enjoy the French Defense very much, and my win rate with it is fairly good. Lately, though, I've been wanting to explore new defenses, only to spice my game up (I'm getting bored of the typical positions that come out of the french, as wild as some of them may be).</p>

<p>I consider the french to be solid, yet not flexible. By this I mean that the usual French setups are hard to break and resilient, but offer little strategical freedom (this is, there are few logical strategical plans that actually fit the position). It is as if I'm playing all my games with the same two or three long-term plans, not because of lack of imagination, but because this are the plans that usually emerge as logical in the typical positions.</p>

<p>In opposition to this, I'm looking for a new defense that prioritizes flexibility above all, even if not as solid as the french.  An opening that offers a wide variety of strategical ideas and creative play. The Sicilian is a candidate, but there are too many variations to learn and I'm not interested on it at the moment. I'm considering also the Pirc Defense, which I believe to be also flexible enough. </p>

<p>Can anyone recommend a flexible defense against 1. e4? Comments on the mere ideas of flexibility/solidity in the defensive setup are welcome too, as of course these relates to the actual question.</p>
 21014: <p>I see your point clearly and I was once in your place as well in deciding the right opening for me. I would hate to choose the character of the position over objectivity. There are only 4 objectively sound replies to 1. e4. Those being 1...e5, 1...e6, 1...c5, and 1...c6. All the others are in theory suboptimal. I would say that the best way to get a flexible position is to not contest the center with the pawns and the most extreme version of this is the Hippo(Not the best choice). If you got good results with the french you should also with the Caro-Kann and it's a little more flexible. Remember to choose objectivity over character.</p>
 14202: <p>I recommend e6 Sicilians.  You could even use the move order 1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5.  There are a lot of transpositional possibilities.   If you look at some great player who played the French a lot, see what other defense they used;  Petrosian for example.</p>

<p>It is important to have some Sicilian understanding and if you are in a must win situation against a White player who wants a draw then the Sicilian is a must. </p>

<p>What you play against d4 openings could also steer your choice.  For example, if you play the King's Indian Defense, then Pirc/Modern lines could have some knowledge overlap.  If you play the Slav, then the Caro-Khan makes since...</p>

<p>Another important element is what will you enjoy studying.  Personally I played the Najdorf Sicilian exclusively for a long time, but I loved Tiger's Modern (a repertoire book by Tiger Hillarp Persson) so much I adopted the Modern (There is a newer edition called The Modern Tiger).</p>

<p>here is a recent book with good reviews for you:
The Sicilian Taimanov (Grandmaster Repertoire)
by Antonios Pavlidis | Sep 7, 2019</p>
 17425: <p>It sounds like you are drawn to the pirc so try it out and see.  The pirc/modern is very flexible and if you play the king's indian that you can transpose into that if White plays c4 to make a universal system.  </p>

<p>I like the fluidity of being able to see how my opponent sets up first and then respond.  I like the dynamic potential.  Rather than backward black's position feels like a "coiled spring" ready to lash out.  I haven't been blown off the board with e2-e4-e5 and h2-h4-h5 in a while so I think I am getting the hang of the direct assault lines.  </p>
