I am a relative beginner, just beginning to understand the basic elements of chess. I understand what an opening is and appreciate the importance of a good opening. BUT ....... which opening? There are thousands of them each with their own variations. Where do I start?

As white 1. e4

As Black 1. e4 e5

1.d5 d5 or Nf6

Learn and follow good opening principals:
- devlop minor pieces before major ones
- knights before bishops
- castle early
- try not to move a piece twice
- attack when you are fully developed or you see a clear target.

Pay attention to the tension or lack thereof. Be mindful of where pawns are and their condition. Ask youself what it means. Where should the battle take place? A file? A diagonal? A square? Kingside? Queenside? The center? Control of the center generally means control of the game.

Play over many games. Pick a person and play through a game. Ask these questions as you go. Make your own judgements about their decisions. Play through the games posted in the forum. Try to reply to answers.

Practice tactics every day!

Join your local chess club! There is has been no amount of learning chess online that has helped me as much as playing over the board with people and receiving practically free lessons, learning how to anotate my own games, and playing in tournaments. I lose a lot when I'm at the club but I learn more than the 19 + games I play at a time online.

Chess.com does have a great opening browser and I would also recommend using that to help you learn. Good luck!

Both excellent advice !

You don't need anything else !

It's true that you will learn more otb from a  competent opponent than you can online in play-by-day just because you can get a lot of your mistakes punished and corrected in just one day.

Hammer away at the basic opening principles and occupy the center (classical

principles). The Center Game is a good starter opening (e4 e5; d4).

You have to look at which kind of player you are, positional, tactical, acressive, defender or what. It helps you make your opening repertoire.

Cheers guys! Now I know where to start, and it bears out something I have already learnt. So often I find I cannot easily advance because my opponent has control of the centre of the board. Also, I have discovered how powerful a defence pawns can be if used properly.

I personally recommend the Colle-Zukertort to everyone.

Learn more at here  and here  [Disclaimer, these are both links to a website I have for a book on the C-Z I wrote.]

I am into the Trompowsky attack.