Opening variations in FFA [to edit]

Introduction

As a 1900 rated player I will show you some of my personal tips how can you play each of the different openings. The move order in that case is very relevant to the other players responds and affects on your own position.

If you start as Red that's actually an advantage, cause you are the one that opens the game, and the best move in my opinion is 1. g4!. Quickly going for an early promotion with your protected pawn. Another possibillity which players tend to play is Rook's Pawn, which is my opinion less vailuable than the Queen's Pawn, but that's always some possibility for the quick promotion too. The drowback of moving Rook's Pawn is that your opponent can defend this easier than the Queen's Pawn, and in most cases the pawn can be just blocked by your opponents pawn, so in case it is pretty much waste of some tempos in the early stage of the game.

Let's see how can we play Queen's Pawn Game, where each of the player starts with 'd4/d5':
1. g2-g4 .. b7-d7 .. h13-h11 .. m8-k8

All light-squre diagonal has been open. Red can't push the pawn further in this case, cause blue if wishes can give check to the King and green could capture a free bishop of red. So, a good respond should look like 2. Nf3 which I believe is the most active respond for red. Red shouldnn't be afraid if green captures the bishop, and also red shouldn't give an early check to blue's King, cause it is a waste of a tempo, and also helps him to develop. For example:

1. g2-g4 .. b7-d7 .. h13-h11 .. m8-k8

2. Bf1-g2 .. b6-c6 .. Nj14-i12 .. Bn9xBg2

3. Qg1xBg2 .. 

Red shouldn't waste time like this in many cases:

1. g2-g4 .. b7-d7 .. h13-h11 .. m8-k8

2. Ne1-f3 .. d7-e7 .. Nj14-i12 .. k8-j8

3. g4-g5 .. 

The pawn on g5 is now protected by two pieces, and in the near future red can think about pushing his King's Pawn to help queening his Pawn. Another possibility is to play 3. h2-h4. It avoids blue from playing King's Pawn himself, nor he wants to lose his castle rights. It could be a hard time for him defending leftside possible attacks..