Open Game
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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C20–C99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | King's Pawn Game | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonym(s) | Double King's Pawn Opening Double King's Pawn Game |
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An Open Game (or Double King's Pawn Opening) is a chess opening which begins with the following moves:
White has moved the king's pawn forward two squares and Black replies in kind, the result being an Open Game. Other responses to 1.e4 are termed Semi-Open Games, or Single King's Pawn Games.
It should not be confused with the term "open game" (small o), referring to a chess position where ranks, files and diagonals are open, and tending to more tactical gameplay. Bishops are generally stronger than knights on an open board due to their ability to cover longer distances.
White opens by playing 1.e4, which is the most popular opening move and has many 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 was "best by test". On the negative side, 1.e4 places a pawn on an undefended square and weakens the squares d4 and f4; the Hungarian master Gyula Breyer melodramatically declared that "After 1.e4, White's game is in its last throes." If Black keeps the symmetry by replying 1...e5, the result is an Open Game (Hooper & Whyld 1992) (Watson 2006:87–90).
The most popular second move for White is 2.Nf3, attacking Black's king pawn, preparing to castle kingside, and preparing for d2–d4. Black's most common reply is , which usually leads to the Ruy Lopez (3.Bb5), Italian Game (3.Bc4), or Scotch Game (3.d4), though 3.Nc3 Nf6 (the Four Knights Game), often played in the late 19th to early 20th century, or, less commonly, 3....g6 or ...Bb4, (the Three Knights Game), are other possibilities. If Black instead maintains symmetry and counterattacks White's center with then the Petrov's Defense will usually result, though White can avoid the extensive theory of the Petrov by playing 3.Nc3 if he wishes.
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Wikipedia