Tactical openings for black against e4?

What are some good openings, other than the sicilian, that lead to open games with lots of tactics against 1.e4?

Alekhines, Scandinavian Defences....or you could try the Elephant - great name for an opening :-)

1...e5? It's not called "The Open Game" for nothing...

ok, follow up to the 1...e5, how do you stay at of the Ruy or Italian game after Nf3.

The Latvian!

Well, I see no reason to avoid the Ruy -- it's got lots of open and tactical lines in it. Say, 3...f5, or the Open Ruy, et cetera. Just avoid the Closed Ruy.

As for the Italian Game, if White plays c3 & d4 or the Evans Gambit then you've still got your open and tactical game, but it's perhaps a bit better to play 3.Bc4 Nf6 going into the Two Knights Game.

Of course, there's no way for Black to absolutely guarantee and Open Game, not even in the Sicilian. White can choose not to open the center and make it hazardous for Black to open it. That's just how it is.

I only know the main line of the ruy, so I guess i should study some of the more open variations of the ruy lopez and see what I can do with that.  Are there any good resources for the open variation that you can point me in.

Some pretty good suggestions. Although if you beat some one with the Latvian once, you won't the second time :-)

My approach would be to learn some .....e5 lines - although you will be playing on white's battlefield AND the Sicilian (which SHOULD not be avoided :-)  and is the BEST answer to 1e4 )

yeah, the sicilian sure is good, but I think most players at my level know the sicilian and ruy lopez main lines very well, I would like to learn some openings that players at my level don't know very well.  So I can keep my oponents on their toes

I think 3...f5 against the Ruy is more suitable than the Open. It's less well known, and I bet White players think it's more scary.

We are around the same level and people at our level do not know the Sicilian well at all, they hardly know it at all.

Especially not with all the myriads of ideas and variations there are in it.

you can always try the petroff. Its a very open game and rich in tactics

1..d5 Portuguese Variation

pirc/modern e4 d6 or e4 g6 they often transpose

Petroff?? Tactical?? It has to be one of the most solid yet dull replies. Most of the sicillians are tactical, especially the dragon. Maybe try a few different sicillains out and see if you like any of them.

he said other than sicilan

i actually play the sicilian most of the time, but i am starting to think that i may enjoy the scandinavian defense (1. e4 d5) obviously looking for the exchange and an open game.

Yeh, but i was just meaning to point out that the best tactics will come from them, and if it because he doesnt like it, trying a few out may change his mind. Although if it is a definite no to the best opening :P , maybe have a look at the  Nimzowitsch (e4 Nc6), as it can be fun, and very few e4 players bother to learn how to play against it.

Predictable reply. You shouldn't confuse the reputation a line has at top GM level with the reality at amateur level -- most of those games they call dead draws look plenty alive to me.