Chess Openings

I have been playing chess for many years, but I never learned any proper openings.  Any suggestions as to which may be the best to initially learn?

I've been studying openings for about a year now...and I've only just realized they have almost nothing to do with chess.

start with classical double-king pawn openings.
(1.e4 e5) start with 4 knights game, then ruy lopez, guico piano, then scotch

if you like open, attacking games i'd suggest the italian game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4) or the Scotch Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4).

if you like closed, positional games i'd suggest the queen's gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4).

here's two good links: openings for beginners and choosing an opening repertoire.

Personally, I think you should try the sicilian (e4, c5) for black, or queen's gambit (d4, d5, c4)

at our level, or most of us, studying any opening white or black will help, even gambits.  best to narrow down yur choices and don't learn an opening a week.  i used to play sicilans as black, then switched to double e pawns, in which i do slightly better.  as white i play scotch, evans, two knights.  against d4 i play classical q gambit, tho im learning a little kings indian,nimzo, etc. just for a change.  you'llnever in your lifetime learn enough of a line, be happy if you get into the middle game in good shape.  that's probably more important than any opening memorization.