Hello all,

I play e4 a lot. I would like your suggestions on how to respond 1. e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6 A few points that would help you narrow it down:

1. I don't want to get into the Ruy Lopez.

2.I like open games.

3. 4 knights and Guico Piano seem drawish. I'd like to avoid these unless there is an attacking variation.

Of late I've been trying the Scotch with d4. I could try the Evan's Gambit, but I'm not Kasparov to pull it off. Anything else?

3 . c3 Ponziani is a good choice as you can out prepare your opponent

You might want to try the Halloween Gambit in Four Knights. It's quite aggressive.

Scotch seems like a good choice. If you don't find something that specifically suits you, I suggest you stick with the Scotch.

Just curious: Why don't you want Ruy Lopez?

Thanks for the suggestions I will check out the Halloween Gambit.

Spanish: Too complicated for me to remember all of Black's replies after 1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5...

The Scotch opening is very strong and hard for Black to find equality. The Halloween Gambit is fun, but not too sound and once people realize you play it they will prepare and you will be busted.

Not so with the Scotch.  They can know it is coming, like the Packer Sweep, but stopping it is not so easy.

I would recommend the ruy lopez, but since you don't want to play that the scotch is probably the best choice. The italian, although it seems boring, can lead to some fun aggressive play. I have played the evan's gambit a few times with white and I usually got a good position without knowing that much theory.

the Scotch game is what I usually play, playing the scotch gambit is also very fun. I've been getting into it lately.

you can also try the torre attack although it is a d4 opening

I like 3.Bc4, there are lines that tend to be drawish, but you will find that no what opening you play there are going to be lines that are drawish. The Goreing Gambit is another idea, I played it for awhile and got some pretty good results.

MY ADVICE! DO NOT ENTER THE GORING GAMBIT!

It might be an "ok" line but with good preparation u will usually get a draw or a loss. Trust me, Trust the statistics

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6

Serious openings from here are

3.Bb5, the Ruy, but you don't want it

3.Bc4, the Italian, can be played to feel much like the Ruy (with d3 and c3), or more in gambit style in several ways.

3.d4, the Scotch, probably the most respectable after the Ruy

3.Nc3 (with likely Nf6), choice of 4.Bb5 (4...Bb4 is drawish, 4...Nd4 less so), 4.d4 exd5 and then 5.Nxd4 or the Budapest Gambit with 5.Nd5!?, or 4.g3 which is pretty decent, or the aforementioned Halloween 4.Nxe5?!?.

3.c3 (Ponziani) is an ok opening, but black has several good replies and I've never liked the positions I got after 3...d5.

with good preparation it doesn't matter what opening you play, the game should end in draw. I suggested the Goring Gambit, based on what B97 said he wanted out the opening and my own experiences with the opening. I think playing any gambit opening at the sub master level is a great way to improve your attacking skills, and it helps players to stop focusing so much on material. But here is slightly more sound opening plan.

Ummm... white is down a pawn and has no positional advantage.

Ruy Lopez is not only simple, but it is effective for white.  My studying credentials are very poor;  Lopez is a great start and a Sicilian with black.

except for the bishop pair, more space, and initiative.

down a pawn, not enough initiative, knight can only develop to d2, bishop pair is later but for the pawn, not enough compensation

The Goring Gambit is a fine opening for White if that suits his style. I played it for years and faced many masters with it and did OK (at least the opening was not the blame for my losses)--The Danish is also fine. 

At non-master level any of these openings will get you into a very playable middle game which is the whole idea of chess. If you know the patterns of your opening better than your opponent you will be in familiar ground and that will be to your advantage. Do not worry about opening theorists who say =/+  (or +/=)-that is irrelevant to anyone less than 2200 FIDE--Do not spend too much time on the opening it will not advance your chess fast enough.

Anyone who thinks the Goring is worse for White should challenge me--I will play it and the opening will not cause any problems for me.

My suggestions are to play the scotch...

Nigel Davies DVD

Scotch Game by Peter Wells

Starting Out: Scotch Game by John Emms

OR!

Take the plunge and learn the Ruy, it really is the best choice. Playing something like the Worral Attack cuts down on a lot of theory and there happens to be a very good book on the Worral.

Play the Ruy Lopez by Andrew Greet

I'd reccommend the Scotch, and head toward the Mieses variation, it's sharp. 

You could also try the Scotch Gambit, after reading Chess Openings for White, Explained, by Lev Alburt I am convinced that unless Black goes into a Two Knights' Defence he's pretty hurting.

Starting Out: The Scotch is an excellent book btw.

PS> Yeah, the Worrall attack in the Ruy works too.  Easy(ier) to learn and Play the Ruy Lopez, by Greet is good coverage.

If you prefer open games the Danish Gambit and King's Gambit are good for White.  Against stronger players the Scotch Game would be better (or perhaps only the Echange Variation of the Ruy Lopez, avoiding many of the complications).