Chess Openings for Beginner

I am just getting into chess again, after a long time without playing. I read a few Jeremy Silman books, so my understanding of tactics is pretty sound, but I'm consistently handicapped by my lack of knowledge regarding openings. I enjoy an agressive game as much as the next guy, but I can also appreciate good positional play.

What I'm asking for is one or two openings for black and white (each) that aren't too advanced, and have a lot of literature about them so I can get a solid grip on them. In particular I have no idea what to do when faced with 1 d4 as black, so an opening for that would be very helpful.

I really appreciate your help with this, as I feel I can get up to at least 1400 with a decent repertoire of openings. Thanks!

For someone seeking help with choosing openings, I usually bring up Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014).

http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html

I believe that it is possible to see a fair portion of the beginning of Tamburro's book by going to the Mongoose Press site.

By the way, offhand, I am unable to think of a Silman book that would be classified as about tactics. You might want to consider something like Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1949).

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf

I looked at that Tamburro book and was considering picking it up for my Kindle, but it appears that the Kindle version has annotation problems with the moves?  Can anyone let me know if it has been fixed?

Otherwise, would you happen to have any other recommendations? 

I read 'How to reasess your chess' by silman (mostly about positional play) 'Complete Book of chess strategy' (despite the name, I found it to be pretty tactically helpful) and  'Amateur's mind' (still workin my way through that one). 

My main problem with most chess books is they assume too much of the reader, and as a lower level player, it's difficult to get to the point where I can understand what they are saying without resorting to children's books (which are meant for children, and not so great for an adult)

I looked at reviews for the Tamburro book, and they were pretty lukewarm. This one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ASHEFBA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=14Y5UDZ04BDFJ&coliid=I32IGY3ZTA3ZBN

looked pretty good, anyone read Mastering Chess Openings Vol 1 by Jon Watson?

I want to know it's good before dropping money on it

You might want to peruse some of the books in this list....

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/good-chess-opening-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

In particular, regarding your interest in a book on meeting 1.d4, "Queen's Gambit Declined" by Matthew Sadler is instructive and highly regarded.

Also, John Watson's "Mastering The Chesss Openings" series is certainly outstanding. His discussions and explanations of the theory of the openings are very instructive.  Although understand that the series is essentially an openings reference or survey.

Finally, for a good introduction to, and grounding in opening fundamental principles, perhaps the best book is "Discovering Chess Openings" by John Emms.

Over the past few years I have found some openings that are not too advance but for which there are some good books.  I play these openings because I feel I get more out of my study time if I minimize the amount of opening study and spend more on Tactics.

My recommendations for White are The Scotch Game, and The Bishop Opening.  For Black vs 1 e4 I recommend the Caro-Kann or  The French, vs 1d4 I recommend The Dutch. 

As for books I recommend the Starting Out books, like Starting Out the Scotch Game and the Chess Explained books, like Chess Explained The French.  Also books like The Most Instructive Games of Chess Every Played and Understanding Chess Move by Move can be a big help. 

For Tactics I recommend Tactics Time. 

@RussBell and @OldIronSide, thanks a ton!  I'll particularly look up, and try to memorize, those openings that you mentioned specifically.

Tamburro's book seems decent, but why doesn't it even touch on the Slav etc.?

anyone read Mastering Chess Openings Vol 1 by Jon Watson?

f4u: Watson's MCO (not the old MCO!) is excellent, but judging by your live rating I suspect it's over your head for now.

I recommend looking through wiki entries on the openings to get an idea of what's out there and what you might like.

Don't sweat the openings. Your opponents won't be much better booked. You can get by on the standard advice -- occupy the center, develop your pieces, castle early etc.

You wil be surprised at how much you have to improve before your games aren't decided by dropping pieces and pawns or missing mating threats.

If you would feel more comfortable with a manageable opening repertoire, OldIronside's recommendations for the French or Caro-Kann for 1.e4 and the Dutch for 1.d4 are good. But going the double KP or QP routes are good too and some say better for long-range development of your abilities.

"... it may be worth noting that flank openings such as the English, the Réti, the Nimzo-Larsen, and the Bird are not covered in either [of the first two volumes of the Mastering the Chess Openings series]. Also, the Scandinavian Defense is largely missing, as is the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, the Scotch, the Catalan, and the Dutch to mention only a few. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2007)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627115737/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen99.pdf

I do not know if you are a 1.d4 player or not.

However, If you are I did write an article which might be helpful on a nice line which is recommended to beginners!

http://www.chess.com/blog/X_PLAYER_J_X/london-system

@X_PLAYER_J_X, thanks a bajillion!  I'll look at that write up.  Very much appreciated!

Yeah I like the London System myself.

I wasn't sure if you was the guy who said you liked the Scotch Opening or not.

However, I will add the link incase you was.

I wrote an article on it as well.

http://www.chess.com/blog/X_PLAYER_J_X/scotch-opening