e4 is one of the most straightforward openings for white. It lays claim to the center, and opens both his queen and a bishop for further development.

? b5 is an unusual open because it ignores the center and leaves the pawn vulnerable. 1...b6 (Owen Defense) is more common because you still open up your queenside bishop while clearly indicating that you plan to control queenside.

This would again be a standard play in the King's Pawn open. Nc3 supports the forward pawn, but in this case it also threatens black's pawn.

By this move we are already "out of book", meaning that we are no longer in a series of moves that is well documented. You develop your bishop but also leave it cornered. A safer play might have been 2...a6

Given the various moves, this seemed the most logical. By advancing to a4, I open up my queenside rook for further development and my advanced pawn is supported by both my knight and my rook.

!? This was a strong, aggressive play. It is also what we call a gambit: you willingly offer a piece as sacrifice for what you gamble will be a stronger position.

At this point many would consider the gambit played out. The pawn on b4 remains threatening the white knight, you promoted your own knight, and you removed one of my bishops in play for the price of your own bishop.

Of all the moves to make with this knight to save him from capture, this was the most aggressive. A safer play would have been Nc3b5, but I chose to assert control over the center and take back initiative.

As an opening play, Nf3 is used to support d4. Since there is no piece to support there, this move serves as a foreshadow for...

...ignoring the capture and pressing white's advantage on the center. White's forward pawn is now supported by the knight, and the stacked pawns on the d-file will weaken black as the game develops.