How to play the opening 2 (how NOT to play it!)
Don’t play Old Stodge.
A lot of you play Old Stodge.
This is Old Stodge.
Don’t play Old Stodge
Why?
It’s usually blocked and difficult and boring, and your Rooks will sulk for a long while about being left out.
You need to swap some pawns and (half-)open a file to get your Rooks working.
Also, if you open up the position, it’s usually more fun, and you get to play nice tactics, and that’s good practice.
Getting an open position as White
This is pretty easy — just play d2-d4. You can do this straight away or after some preparation. Here’s three ideas:
Scotch Game
Open Italian Game
Ruy Lopez with d2-d4
Getting an open position as Black
This can be harder, if White wants to keep it closed. Here’s three ideas:
Scandinavian Defence
Petroff Defence
Two Knights’ Defence
The Two Knights’ Defence is great no matter what White plays, but if White plays 4.d3 it’s not so easy to open things up. 4…d5 is risky and it will take you a long while before you can play …f5. But try and play …f5 anyway! Or you can playing …g5 to scare them…
Remember: the RSPCR* says: Don’t play Old Stodge — Open a file!
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Rooks