Open Game

This article is about the chess opening and is not to be confused with open gaming or Open (sport).

An Open Game (or Double King's Pawn Opening) is a generic term for a family of chess openings beginning with the moves:

1. e4 e5

Open Game

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Moves	1.e4 e5
ECO	C20–C99
Parent	King's Pawn Game
Synonyms	Double King's Pawn Opening Double King's Pawn Game

Black controls the d4-square in the center and maintains symmetry. 1.e4 e5 gives rise to many of the oldest and most deeply analyzed openings in the game. Play most commonly continues 2.Nf3 Nc6, leading to the Ruy Lopez (3.Bb5), Italian Game (3.Bc4), Scotch Game (3.d4), and others. Black's most important alternative to 2...Nc6 is 2...Nf6, Petrov's Defense. Other Open Games include the King's Gambit (2.f4) and Vienna Game (2.Nc3).

After having been the most common pair of opening moves until the 20th century, 1...e5 remains the second most popular response to White's first move 1.e4 (1...c5 is slightly more popular among tournament players).^[1] Other responses to 1.e4 are termed Semi-Open Games or Single King's Pawn Games. When written in lowercase, the term "open game" refers to a chess position where ranks, files and diagonals are open, and tending to more tactical gameplay. It is possible that an Open Game may lead to a closed game.^[2]

Analysis

White opens by playing 1.e4, which is the most popular opening move and has several strengths – it immediately stakes a claim in the center, and frees two pieces (the queen and king's bishop) for action. The oldest openings in chess follow 1.e4. Bobby Fischer wrote that 1.e4 is "Best by test."^[3] On the negative side, 1.e4 places a pawn on an undefended square and weakens the squares d4 and f4. If Black keeps the symmetry by replying 1...e5, the result is an Open Game.^[2][4]

2.Nf3 Nc6

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

King's Knight Opening, main line: 2.Nf3 Nc6

The most popular second move for White is 2.Nf3 (the King's Knight Opening), attacking Black's king pawn, preparing to castle kingside, and preparing for d2–d4 in many lines. Black's usual reply to 2.Nf3 is 2...Nc6, defending the king's pawn without restricting the movement of the king's bishop. From here several named openings can arise.

The Ruy Lopez or Spanish Game (3.Bb5) is one of the most popular openings at all levels of chess, and one of the most extensively analyzed. Black's most common response is 3...a6, forcing White to make a decision between exchanging the bishop for the knight with 4.Bxc6 or retreating with 4.Ba4. A common alternative is the Berlin Defense (3...Nf6), which can continue into a heavily analyzed drawish line after 4.0-0 Nxe4, the Open Berlin. Black has several alternatives, the sharpest of which is the Schliemann Defense (3...f5).

The Italian Game (3.Bc4) is White's second most popular move, usually leading to either the Giuoco Piano (3...Bc5) or the Two Knights Defense (3...Nf6). The name "Italian Game" is also used as a synonym for the Giuoco Piano by many writers.

The Scotch Game (3.d4) was popular in the 19th century and is still the third most common move. After the usual 3...exd4, White may either recapture with 4.Nxd4 with an approximately equal game, or play the Scotch Gambit (4.Bc4), a risky but dangerous tactical line against an unprepared opponent.

The Four Knights Game (3.Nc3 Nf6) was also quite popular in the 19th century. It frequently leads to positional games and is generally considered less challenging for Black to defend against than the three lines above. Less commonly, 3....g6 or 3...Bb4 (the Three Knights Game) are possible.

The Ponziani Opening (3.c3) has never achieved widespread popularity but is occasionally used as a surprise weapon. Other third moves for White such as the Konstantinopolsky Opening (3.g3)^[5][6] and Inverted Hungarian Opening (3.Be2) are rarely played and offer White no advantage.

Other second moves for Black

Black's most important alternative to 2...Nc6 is 2...Nf6, known as Petrov's Defense. White can avoid the extensive theory of the Petrov by playing 3.Nc3, which will usually transpose into a Four Knights Game after 3...Nc6.

The Philidor Defense (2...d6) defends the pawn on e5 but has the disadvantage of restricting the mobility of Black's king's bishop, and typically leads to solid but passive positions for Black. For this reason, it largely fell out of favor by the early 20th century as Black players sought more dynamic options, but it has a dependable reputation and is still occasionally seen at grandmaster level.

The Elephant Gambit (2...d5) and the Latvian Gambit (2...f5) are considered very risky for Black. The Gunderam Defense (2...Qe7) is an offbeat choice which blocks the development of the king's bishop and has never achieved widespread popularity. The Damiano Defense (2...f6) may be met by either 3.Nxe5 or 3.Bc4 with advantage and is almost never seen. The Busch–Gass Gambit (2...Bc5), which was something of an online fad in the early 2020s, is well met by 3.Nxe5 Nc6 4.Nf3.

Other second moves for White

The most popular alternatives to 2.Nf3 are 2.f4 (the King's Gambit), 2.Nc3 (the Vienna Game), and 2.Bc4 (the Bishop's Opening). The King's Gambit was popular before the 20th century with master and amateur alike. White offers a pawn to undermine Black's center and achieve quick development. The Vienna Game also frequently features such attacks on the Black center by means of f2–f4. Some of its lines, as well some in the Bishop's Opening, can transpose to variations of the King's Gambit.

In the Center Game (2.d4), White immediately opens the center, though if the pawn is to be recovered after 2...exd4 with 3.Qxd4, Black may gain a tempo on White's queen with 3...Nc6. An alternative is to sacrifice one or two pawns by offering the Danish Gambit (3.c3).

The early development of the queen in the Danvers Opening (2.Qh5, also known as the Parham Attack) is usually played only by amateurs, though Hikaru Nakamura has experimented with it in grandmaster tournaments and was able to achieve a reasonable position.^[7][8] The Napoleon Opening (2.Qf3) has even less to recommend it as Black can easily block any mating threats without compromising their development. The Portuguese Opening (2.Bb5) and Alapin's Opening (2.Ne2) are offbeat tries for White, but neither gain any advantage against correct play. The Bongcloud Attack (2.Ke2) is considered a joke opening.

Examples

• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Ruy Lopez
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Italian Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 Giuoco Piano
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Evans Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 Two Knights Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 Hungarian Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 without 3...Nf6 Three Knights Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 Four Knights Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Scotch Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Ponziani Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 Konstantinopolsky Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2 Inverted Hungarian Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Petrov's Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 Philidor Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 Latvian Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 Elephant Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7 Gunderam Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6 Greco Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 Damiano Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.f4 King's Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Vienna Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bishop's Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 Center Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 Danish Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.c3 Centre Pawn Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Alapin's Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Danvers Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3 Napoleon Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Bb5 Portuguese Opening

Diagrams

Ruy Lopez

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

Italian Game

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4

Giuoco Piano

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

Evans Gambit

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4

Two Knights Defense

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6

Hungarian Defense

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7

Three Knights Game

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 without 3...Nf6

Four Knights Game

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6

Scotch Game

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4

Ponziani Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3

Konstantinopolsky Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3

Inverted Hungarian Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2

Petrov's Defense

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Nf6

Philidor Defense

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 d6

Latvian Gambit

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 f5

Elephant Gambit

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 d5

Greco Defense

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 Qf6

Damiano Defense

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nf3 f6

King's Gambit

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.f4

Vienna Game

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Nc3

Bishop's Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Bc4

Center Game

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.d4 exd4

Danish Gambit

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.d4 exd4 3.c3

Centre Pawn Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.c3

Alapin's Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Ne2

Danvers Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Qh5

Napoleon Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Qf3

Portuguese Opening

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2.Bb5

See also

• Closed Game (1.d4 d5)
• Flank opening (1.c4, 1.Nf3, 1.f4, and others)
• Irregular chess opening
• King's Pawn Game
• List of chess openings
• Semi-Closed Game (1.d4 other)
• Semi-Open Game (1.e4 other)