Playing the open games as black.

Hey, so far the only defence I have studied and played as black is the sicilian. What attracted me to it was the large imbalances that typically occur in most of the positions, which give black alot of chances to play for a win. I was going to switch to a different sicilian as I have been playing the Najdorf for around a year, but decided to switch openings entirely instead.

I would like to learn the open games as black (1.e4 e5), as I think it is beneficial for all chess players to learn. What has always put me off from 1...e5, is that if white wants a boring, perhaps even drawish game, he can usually steer the game that way with openings like the italian or the four knights. I think I would die of boredom if I had to play this position over and over: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6.

So I am asking for ideas to make the game more exciting after 1.e4 e5. What are some aggressive lines against the ruy, italian, king's gambit, 4 knights, scotch and others. I already have some ideas, like the falkbeer against the king's gambit, but for the really symmetrical (boring) ones like the four knights I am not sure how to unbalance the game. The more aggressive, the better. As long as they are relatively sound. Main lines are my preference aswell.  

Well, in most openings, if White really wants to, he can make the game boring and equal. Black should (in theory) rejoice, since he has easy equality, and there will always come some chances later on. And how many people really consciously play for a boring game as White?

Anyway, the "Old Stodge", the Italian line you gave, will still become interesting some 5-10 moves later. Or you can play the Two Knights Defence, which is equally good.

Against the Ruy there's 3...f5, or going for the Marshall Gambit, but really there are very few Ruy lines that are stale equality. Black would wish.

The King's Gambit should be accepted, answering 3.Nf3 with 3...g5, giving Black perhaps a tiny advantage in the very deep theoretical lines. Doesn't really matter, the game won't be boring. The Falkbeer is crap, by the way, and I don't see why it would be more exciting.

The four knights: against 4.Bb5 there is 4...Nd4; against 4.g3 there's the neat Halloween Reversed (4...Nxe4!?! 5.Nxe4 d5, the point is that Ng6 is the best move in the normal Halloween but here that's not possible). Against 4.d4 I'd just play 4...exd4 5.Nxd4 and I don't believe it'll stay boring for long. Against 4.Bc4 there's 4...Nxe4! 5.Nxe4 d5.

What's the problem with the Scotch? Both the mainlines 4...Bc5 and 4...Nf6 seem fine to me.

 Thanks for the ideas. The main reason I was thinking of playing the falkbeer is because in the accepted lines it seems like black grabs the pawn and then has to endure a long and accurate defence. I am aware it is black's theoretically best try, but it is also what white players are probably most familiar with. Playing against the ruy doesn't concern me too much, because the positions often become more imbalanced, then say in the italian. Is the archangle variation of the ruy a good choice? I heard it is pretty aggresive. I don't have a problem with the scotch, I was just looking for an aggressive way to play against it.

Philidors variation:

1e4 e5

2Nf3 d6

3d4 and then ed which is Larsen's variation:-) similiar to a Sicilian with the e pawn missing instead of the c pawn. Good surprise value !

4 Nxd4 g6

The Hanam variation used to be a favourite, although the "exchange" variation favours white.

After 1 e4 e5 , white can often go wrong with the "Kings Gambit" and "Vienna".

I switched last year to the Sicilian which I consider best, but am glad of the 1...e5 experience.