Recently, some friends and I played team chess. It was fun but the beginning was awkward. We played Black. White played 1.d4. Our top choices were 1...d5 and 1...Nf6. 1...Nf6 got voted. The guy who voted ...d5 said it was "better" because ...Nf6 didn't control the center. We tried to explain that it wasn't true but he ignored me. Whte followed up with the usual 2.c4. Our choices were 2...e6 and 2...d5?!. I then explained why 2...d5?! was not good: 3.cxd5 Nxd5 (3...Qxd5 4.Nc3) 4.Nf3! with 5.e4 to follow. Then the guy said that he didn't play theory as if it was evil. I was a bit insulted. I wouldn't call 2-move analysis "extensive theory" but even so he was so quick to judge that I was reciting that he hadn't even looked at it. Anyway, we played 2...e6 and continued 3.Nf3 c5. The guy actually quit and said that we were losing because of 1...Nf6 which obviously was not true. I don't know the Benoni at all but even if I did know theory how is that bad? I would think that people would be more open to new ideas.

"The greatest pain is the pain of a new idea"

Anyway, for real lighthearted fun try non-consulting team play. It can be a car wreck but if you don't take the chaos to heart you will enjoy yourself.