e4 e5

Anyone have an especially nice way to counter 1... e5?

I've usually played 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 or 3. Bb5. 3. Bb5 seems good. Also, I liked 3. Bc4 a lot, especially against Bc5, but I had trouble finding something against 3...Nf6. 4.d4 and 4. Ng5 never worked out. Another problem is against Petroff, which I find kind of annoying.

I'm also considering 2. Bc4 (Bishop's Opening), KIA against 1...e5, or trying to learn how to beat Petroff. Any suggestions?

4.d4 in the 2 knights is nothing, while 4.Ng5 is interesting- but requires some memorization of variations in the critical lines. Black can equalize in a couple of variations, although current theory claims that the Fritz and Ulvestad variations are slightly risky for black, the Traxler dubious at best, and the classical approach with 4...d5 5.ed5 Na5 rather balanced, but with chances for both sides.

But if you like white after 3.Bc4 Bc5 then you can probably answer 3...Nf6 with 4.d3, when most of the times black will reply 4...Bc5

KG or BC

Thanks for the help, everyone. Any good way to counter Petroff? :P

Against the Petroff you may try the so-called Nimzowitz attack (3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.Nc3) which is very popular currently. White's plan of speedy development, castling long and then acting accordingly to where the black king has castled is rather easy to follow.

1. e4 d5 2.exd5 3.Qxd5 ...

Known as the Centre Counter.

If somebody uses it against you, immediately do 2. e5

This is quite toothless after both 2...Bf5 and 2...c5. Surely enough there are better ways to counter the Center Counter/Scandinavian

You could try a King's Gambit.