You were most assuredly playing against below average players. Most of the early part of a chess game is spent trying to establish an 'opening line' and can tra

You were most assuredly playing against below average players. Most of the early part of a chess game is spent trying to establish an 'opening line' and can transform several times depending on what moves both players make. So, you as white could set out trying to play the English and find your self ending up with the QGD. If you don't learn the theory behind the openings (whether by reading or by observation) you will remain a below average player for a long time