Curtains and the Ruy Lopez don't really go well I guess

PLEASE DO NOT PLAY THE SCOTCH!!!!! It just sucks... and it isn't that interesting.
First of all the Kings Gambit isn't that bad. Black is just equal and the only line of which white has to be afraid of is
1.e4,e5
2.f4,exf4
3.Nf3,g5
4.Lc4,Lg7!
that line safes him a more or less equal game.
after 4...g4 you can play 0-0. This line is just cool and if you analyse a bit with fritz you will see that it is more or less "equal" too, but it is a dynamic equality because often white is down 1 or 2 pieces, which means that he has such a strong attack which is worth these pieces.
All other lines in the Kings Gambit aren't that great for black.

If you do not want to play the Kings Gambit and you do not want to play the heavy theory, then you could play the ponziani.
You will get equal but interesting positions there and hey.... i mean you learn 30 moves of ruy lopez theory and you get an equal position too
If you do want to have a look at the ponziani then i can send you some analysis done by me some time ago with fritz 10 and my head.
The main problem with the ponziani though is, that nearly all games even by strong players are bad. The often play it as a surprise weapon and therefore they are not really well prepared and they do not really improve it, they just play the old lines which aren't the best.
If you do not want to play that aggressive openings then you can think of playing the exchange variation of the ruy lopez.
In the exchange variation you can just torture you opponent without any risk. Black has to play very accurate and if he does so then he can maybe get a draw, but black has no real winning chances.

Well.... i hope you do not play the scotch

oh and if you do not know what the ponziani is:
1.e4,e5
2.Nf3,Nf6
3.c3,(d5 or Nf6)

Yay, the Scotch! That's a fun opening, don't listen to pawn. Got to know your lines though if you play the e5-line. Somehow somewhere someone normally sacrifices the exchange for something. Or if you want to give us a laugh, you could try 2. Qh5 playing like Nakamura one game .

Go for 1.e4 e5 2.Ne2

What?!? Blacks better in the Kings Gambit??? shouldn't stop you from playing it. It is a very exciting opening to play. I think you should look into it.

btw pawn, if you play the kings gambit you should probably play

1.e4 e5
2.f4 exf4
3.Nf3 g5
4.h4

Cmon its obvious just by looking how horrible the kings gambit is!

Ever think about the King's Bishop Gambit? Yeah, me either.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc5
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. d3!

There's a sideline. It avoids blacks aggressive options (Open, Marshall Attack ect.) The idea is the same as the normal closed main lines, you just delay d4 take away some of blacks options and increase your options. Like you can queenside in some lines. Besides you're supposed to drink Scotch not play it! Yeah it was lame joke. Good Luck

How about the Vienna Game / Gambit?

Did he call the Ruy Lopez gay?

vienna ftw, avoid the obviously crappy lines (eg. where they go g3)

DO YOU ALL REALIZE THESE STUPID OPENINGS DON'T WORK VERY WELL AGAINST GOOD PLAYERS (GM'S, IM'S ETC).

I have a question. How well are the openings you play after 1. e4 e5 working for you now?

CV.tv is the place where an International Master of chess can get golden advice from unrated anonymous kibitzers on the internet.

i really like when you cycle through openings like that and talk about your vague ideas of them... somehow makes me feel like I'm learning a sense for positions or something