Question

Is there any hidden subtlety, is one perferred, or is one just a shorter way to write the other?

Client = db.Clients.First(c=>c.Name == "Client 1")

and

Client = db.Clients.Where(c=>c.Name == "Client 1").First()

Answer 1

Yes they are equiv.

Simple test it to add them to LINQPad and view the generated Sql statements and on my database I get the exact same Queries generated.

Update :

Below is example of the queries I get against my db.

-- Region Parameters
DECLARE @p0 VarChar(1000) = 'SKY02'
-- EndRegion
SELECT TOP (1) [t0].[MST_SQ], [t0].[EMP_EMPNO]
FROM [EMPLOYEE] AS [t0]
WHERE [t0].[EMP_EMPNO] = @p0
GO

-- Region Parameters
DECLARE @p0 VarChar(1000) = 'SKY02'
-- EndRegion
SELECT TOP (1) [t0].[MST_SQ], [t0].[EMP_EMPNO]
FROM [EMPLOYEE] AS [t0]
WHERE [t0].[EMP_EMPNO] = @p0