I am not an expert/master but coach below 1700. Please tell me if I should recommend the King's Gambit or Larsen for white's opening and two-knights for defense.Advise on openings welcome for beginners.

 

I would argue that the King's gambit is too out there for a complete beginner. Everybody has there own style of playing and the King's gambit is only suited to those who want to play very agreesively. If you do not know the style of the newbie (and it is likely they don't know either) then I think it makes sense to teach a range of different types of opening. So teach a few solid and standard openings for use as white; QGD, Ruy Lopez, 4 Knights and the like. If the student then shows flair for attacks then bring out the KG and other proper gambits.

I'm not an expert at the subject, but I have heard of some great chess players originally being "forced" by their teachers to use an all gambit opening repertoire to help them learn (I think it may have its advantages and disadvantages, even for people with a very prophylactic playing style)

For beginners I'd reccomend 4 Knights or Ruy Lopez.

I would recommend Giuoco Piano, or even the Evans Gambit, the Kings Gambit is a little to crazy. The important thing for beginners in the opening is to develop there pieces quickly and get right into the middle game with out having to memorize a ton of opening lines.