Open vs. Closed games...

I've heard games referred to as 'Open' or 'Closed'. What is the definition of this? Is it cut-and-dried, or subjective?

Thanks in advance-

-Russell

I think.. 1. e4 e5 are open games.. 1. d4 starts are closed games, and anything that starts 1. e4 and response is something else is a semi-open game.

Did I get that right? .. I'm sure if not I'll be corrected quickly.
The reasoning I believe is that in e4 e5 games, there is more movement, making the game more open.

As I understand it, a closed game is one where there is a locked, or at least crowded, pawn centre... the sort of game where knights are really handy for wiggling around the board, and bishops are frustrated. An open game, conversely, has space in the centre, so your long range pieces are at an advantage and can cover a lot of territory.

You can easily have either type from e4 or d4 openings.

Open or Close game is wrt center.
Game with one or many center pawns exchanged is open where as game with center pawns locked is closed.
In open games Bishop is prefered(over Knight) because of its long range, while in closed knight is prefered as it can jump over pieces.

Edit: Poms post is simul with the same message

All of the above answers are correct. The second post was correct in that openings beginning with 1. e4 e5 are classified as open games, even though they often end up as semi open or closed positions...so on and so forth with 1. d4 etc. Those are just generic classifications of OPENINGS groups. For a POSITION to be open or closed depends on the presence of center pawns, as noted in the third and fourth post. This is much more relevant than generic openings classifications, as it determines the strategies for each side in the game.

There is smth newer classification :

A 1.e4 e5 - OPEN
B 1. e4 ... other than e5 - SEMI-OPEN
C. 1. d4 d5 - CLOSED
D. 1. d4 ... other than d5 - SEMI-CLOSED
E. 1. other than e4 or d4 - FLANKED

From the Oxford Companion To Chess: Open Game=any game in which pawn exchanges open up files, diagonals, and ranks for use by the line pieces, as opposed to a Closed Game, in which the range of the pieces is restricted and they operate primarily behind the lines.

Originally posted by Dodger11
From the Oxford Companion To Chess: Open Game=any game in which pawn exchanges open up files, diagonals, and ranks for use by the line pieces, as opposed to a Closed Game, in which the range of the pieces is restricted and they operate primarily behind the lines.

Originally posted by ketchuplover
What subjects does this Oxford's book cover?

An open game is one in which you can move your elbows without knocking over pieces. A closed game is one in which you get a severe headache trying to calculate variations. A semi-closed (or semi-open game, if you will) is one in which you have dropped a couple of pawns for no compensation whatsoever and are trying to figure out how to slip out of the playing area inconspicuously. There, does that settle the issue?