stick with e4 [2]

i would say that the ruy lopez is a good opening for beginners. opening up with d4 is also a good move, lots of potential in that.

try reading "play winning chess" by yasser seirwan, it has principals, openings, and annotted games. it's helped me a ton. maybe it will do the same for you

e4 opening is good to stick with , then learn the Ruy Lopez

have 2-3 double scotches and try ANY opening - ur sure to win.

sorry -couldnt resist that after seeing people giving so many varied opinions and sure to confuse u even further!

keep playing - u will develop ur own liking - losing is normal for first couple of years and get ur son coached by erik and gang - i STRONGLY recommend u get him a paid membership on chess.com and leave the teaching to experts. U have the option of being his guinea pig of course

Wow thanks for the opinions.  I got a book out today with my son and we looked at the French opening.  Since there was not any suggestions to try that we will look over some of the other suggestions. 

SSS3006    -   I got monkey stomped by my 10 yr old today.  He plays EXTREMELY aggressive.  I can beat him 50-60% of the time.  I hope he sticks with it.  He plays intuitively.  He has an account here but does not do as well as sitting across the table from someone.  I only let him play when I am home....too many weirdos in the world.  I might get a membership for Christmas!

You need experience to decide what is a good opening for you, but you need to lose a lot of games before that happens.  For beginning, as White I would try the Scotch--simple, direct, sound.  As Black, play e5 to e4.  Open games are the easiest to learn (though the hardest to play well).  Get a handle on the basics first--learn about developement, space, time, pawn structure, King safety--then start playing something involved, like the French.  For Black against d4, learn Lasker's Defense--the easiest way to equality.  Write down you games, so you can look at them later and discuss with your son what could have been played as an alternative.  Keep what works; discard what doesn't.  Good luck.

The French is good...that used to be my main answer to e4. I have been going with the accelerated dragon lately...if you avoid a couple of pitfalls early, it is a sound opening for black against e4.

As white, I much prefer the queen's gambit over e4...the style of play suits me well.

Go with the Colle-Zukertort. Beginners should be spending their time doing anything OTHER than focusing on opening theory. The C-Z is an opening you can learn quickly and never outgrow later.

I completely agree with Zukertort the colle zukertort is what I'm teaching my chess students to play so they get a good opening position so we can finally play chess rather then dally around with opening theory.

I highly recommend the book Zuke em' jst get one copy as a reference so if you recorded your games you can look up any little inperfections in move order etc.

Another good thing about the C-Z is the fact you get a blend of tactical and positional play you can go for kingside or queenside  attacks and your dark squared bishop is well posted on either two diagonals you choose.

As black i reccomend the pirc or scandanavian. The pirc has many of the same principles as the C-Z so you can learn bothe openings together relatively easily.

However the Scandy is dead easy to learn all by itself and is considered a side line so you can use it to dodge alot of theory.

The scandanavian

1e4 e5 2bc4 nf6 3nf3 nxe4 4nc3 nxc3 dxc3

Paul Morphy gambit is solid, with white a pawn down but with many attacking chances.

-fgm351

1e4 e5 2bc4 nf6 3nf3 nxe4 4nc3 nxc3 5dxc3

Paul Morphy gambit is solid, with white a pawn down but with many attacking chances.

-fgm351

A new(*) book in the "pirc-ish" setting is soon to be released: The Black Lion

The authors recommend d6, Nf6, Ndb7 against almost anything.

I will put in an order as soon as it gets to my favourite books to my favourite book store!

(*) A revised book that has been a been a local success now released thru a major chess publishing company.

Fabror you have just solved a big problem I had with the chess team thank you!

It was easy to find opening systems for white but no real ones for black.

Also replying to this thread i thouroughly reccomend playing some kind of gambit as it helps teach compensation and sacrifice.

I am glad to be of some assistance! The Black Lion does feel playable. I have had a few really nice games using the system. IM Martin has a new DVD out on 1... b6 as a multi-tool defence.

Trompowsky attack.

Thanks a bunch guys. Thanks Rexbo for the boards.  One day I am going to learn how to do that.

If you think Ruy Lopez is easy, try to read Play the Ruy Lopez by Andrew Greet. It's been two weeks and i still haven't finished it. You won't believe how many variations and lines Andrew gives.

1.e4 followed by 2.Nf6. Cuts out any funny business with early checkmates. However, you now have 41 pieces of different advice, lots to think about :)

i STILL play that noob opening... im a noob i dont know any other openings i dont study chess liek nerds ^_^