How to read this chess play?

>>54023866

It's in the older style of chess writing called Descriptive Notation. These days almost everyone uses the Algebraic Notation system. It's worth learning both if you like old books, but Algebraic is better.

If you want to see the game played out step by step, and some decent commentary check the link at http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1251892

As far as an opening strategy goes, it's not great. There's a breakdown of it at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9gal_Trap but you can't count on your opponent making the specific mistakes necessary. The opening when the opponant doesn't make said mistake is the Giuco Piano, and it's very old, very solid, but very boring. Everyone once in a while you see someone trot it out for surprise value but it's not very popular and a lot of chess teachers think it encourages too much passive play for beginners.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuoco_Piano

>>54023866
It's easy to read once you know it. Look at the back row pieces and that labels your columns. Then count the spaces toward your opponent to get your number. If the directions seem generic, only once piece is available that can legally do that move.
QR--QN--QB--Q--K--KB--KN--KR
Queen's rook, queen's knight, etc.

>Round 1
White Pawn moves forward to King 4
Black Pawn moves forward to King 4
>Round 2
White Bishop moves to Bishop 4
Black Pawn moves to Queen 3
>Round 3
White Knight moves to King Bishop 3
Black Knight moves to Queen Bishop 3
>Round 4
White Knight moves to Bishop 3
Black Bishop moves to Knight 5