Open games

Open openings are characterized by White's first move 1. e4 and Black's reply 1...e5:

The idea of f2-f4

White can try to remove the e5 pawn right away with 2. f4, aiming to seize the center later with d2-d4 (the King's Gambit):

The same idea underlies the main line of the Vienna Game, characterized by the move 2. Nc3.

Black shows the same kind of counterplay with the reply 2...d5 to White's 2. f4 (the Falkbeer Countergambit):

The d2-d4 advance

Most open games include White's pawn advance d2-d4, aimed at forcing Black to give up the center after e5:d4 and opening a path for the c1-bishop:

In a number of openings, the move d2-d4 is prepared with c2-c3, so that after the exchange e5:d4 White can recapture with c3:d4 and get a powerful pawn center:

Sometimes White eases the d2-d4 advance with some kind of distracting maneuver:

Active defense: d7-d5

In Black's systems of active defense, the advance d7-d5 also plays an important role: