Openings Crash Course (just to avoid blunders)

Thanks for the help, it really is nice to be able to analyse these failed openings.

The **original** game, ie the O.P. That should be obvious.

seems to be post #42, probably the top of the page at the time. (Optimissed, the O.P. game is 1. e4 c5)

What is the best response to this?  

3. d4 ?

I'm pretty sure d4 is right, but I don't really know this line. This is the Philidor. Black has the gambit here with f5 which is worth looking at to avoid getting crushed but White should be better if you want to go into it. Bc4 might be a bit safer/easier to play and is also fine.

Oh, well, just for reference, as soon as you DO want to be 2000, that's the way to go about it... you study openings

Here, I'll save you roughly 1 billion more posts :p

http://www.365chess.com/opening.php

3 d4 seems to have more point than 3 Bc4.

Ok, d4 it is.  Attack the center!

3.d4 is good. If 3..exd4 then White can develop freely and has more central space, while Black's development of the dark-squared Bishop is hampered by the pawn on d6.

I think this is good analysis of the f5 gambit after d4 which shouldn't be good but if you don't know it I think it could be more dangerous than it looks: http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/games/java/2012/anti-pcg.htm

I was still under the impression 5... Nxd5 is not a wrong or bad move, just practically very difficult for Black because of the Fried Liver. Has that changed?

I don't know. Last I heard 9. h3 and Black was technically ok, just in a difficult position. After 9. o-o or 9. Bb3 Black is still up a piece and the engine analysis on chessbase gives White less than half a pawn. Is this really "wrong for any level" or still just "difficult to play if you're not an engine"?