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

Open Game
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a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
e5 black pawn
e4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
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Moves1.e4 e5
ECOC20–C99
ParentKing's Pawn Game
Synonym(s)Double King's Pawn Opening
Double King's Pawn Game
1. e4 e5

White has moved the king's pawn two squares and Black has replied in kind. The result is an Open Game. 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.[1]

Analysis

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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 is "Best by test." 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 (Hooper & Whyld 1996:279) (Watson 2006:87–90).

Variations

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2.Nf3

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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.

2...Nc6

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Black's most common reply to 2.Nf3 is 2...Nc6. This can lead to the Ruy Lopez (3.Bb5), one of the most popular openings at all levels of chess, and one of the most extensively analyzed.

The Italian Game (3.Bc4) is a popular alternative, usually leading to either the Giuoco Piano (3...Bc5) or the Two Knights Defense (3...Nf6).

The Scotch Game (3.d4) was popular in the 19th century and remains so at amateur level. After 3...exd4 White may either recapture with 4.Nxd4, usually leading to an equal game, or play the Scotch Gambit (4.Bc4), a dangerous tactical line against an unprepared opponent.

3.Nc3 Nf6, the Four Knights Game, was often played in the late 19th to early 20th century. Less commonly, 3....g6 or ...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), and Inverted Hungarian Opening (3.Be2) are rarely played and offer White no advantage.

Other second moves for Black

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Black's most popular alternative to 2...Nc6 is 2...Nf6, usually leading to Petrov's Defense, though White can avoid the extensive theory of the Petrov by playing 3.Nc3.

The Philidor Defense (2...d6) 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; however, it is still occasionally seen at grandmaster level.

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 Elephant Gambit (2...d5) and the Latvian Gambit (2...f5) are considered very risky for Black, with the latter usually seen only in correspondence play. The Damiano Defense (2...f6) may be met by either 3.Nxe5 or 3.Bc4 with advantage and is almost never seen.

Other second moves for White

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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). These three openings have some similarities; some of the quieter lines in the Vienna and Bishop's Opening can transpose to positional variations of the King's Gambit Declined, when White plays f2–f4 before playing Nf3. The King's Gambit was popular in the nineteenth century with grandmaster and amateur alike. White offers a pawn for speedy development, as well as to attack Black's central outpost. The Vienna Game also frequently features attacks on the Black center by means of f2–f4.

In the Center Game (2.d4), White immediately opens the center, though if the pawn is to be recovered after 2...exd4, White must prematurely develop their queen. 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, also known as the Parham Attack (2.Qh5), is usually played only by amateurs, though Hikaru Nakamura has experimented with it in grandmaster tournaments and was able to achieve a reasonable position.[2][3] 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 of Open Games

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Diagrams

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Ruy Lopez 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
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Italian Game 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
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Giuoco Piano 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
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Evans Gambit 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
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Two Knights Defence 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6
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Hungarian Defence 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7
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Three Knights Game 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 without 3...Nf6
abcdefgh
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Four Knights Game 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6
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Scotch Game 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
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Ponziani Opening 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3
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Petrov's Defence 2.Nf3 Nf6
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Latvian Gambit 2.Nf3 f5
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Elephant Gambit 2.Nf3 d5!?
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Greco Defence 2.Nf3 Qf6
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Damiano Defence 2.Nf3 f6
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abcdefgh
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Center Game 2.d4 exd4
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Danish Gambit 2.d4 exd4 3.c3
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abcdefgh
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abcdefgh
abcdefgh
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 279. open game.
  2. ^ Chess Opening explorer & Database. "Nakamura–Sasikiran". chess.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  3. ^ Barden, Leonard (30 April 2005), "Barden on Chess", The Guardian, retrieved 10 January 2022

Bibliography

Further reading

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