Good off-beat openings

Well, it doesn't have to be on the edge, just a bit off-beat

You can try Alekhine's Defence. It is a very bizarre defence but actually has teeth to it and is very aggressive if you know how to use it.

It's very risky though. You are practically forced to play as aggressively and tactically as possible or risk getting rolled over.

Four Pawns Attack

Modern

Exchange

The four pawns opening definetly seems like a good weapon against the Alekhine's but it's also very specific and I don't believe that I would be able to employ it very often

Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Variation

This works well for white, but bad for black because they lose castling rights.

Also good: Silican Defense: Bowder Attack

Your opponents will be confused immediately! This is not a normal line of the Silican and your bishop can see lots of squares.

I was suggesting that you try playing Alekhine's Defence against e4. If white plays e4, they can't avoid it.

The idea of the opening is essentially to provoke white into overextending in order to exploit the holes and weaken the centre with moves such as Bg4, Bf5-Nb4-c5, etc. It's the quintessential hypermodern defence and very aggressive.

The Bowdler Attack is just an opening that noobs play against the Sicilian because they think it's the Italian. If you want to get better at chess you should stop playing like this. The bishop can just be blocked out with e6 so it doesn't see a lot of squares. You need to read the position.

Black does very well against this variation.

I personaly like alekhine too, but I played a lot of games with pirc or nimzowitsch defence (1.e4) and maybe old benoni, engulnd gambit (1.d4).

You can try english opening for white maybe.

Can I report you for trolling?

Wow, I spelt "Bowdler" wrong.

As an Alekhine player, I can confirm that the theory here is mostly correct (there are some slight move order details in the Symmetric Exchange, but that's something that you work out with experience).

One thing that I should point out is that in the Modern variation, the Larsen has greatly grown in popularity. Almost all recent resources on the Alekhine (whether that be IM Tim Taylor's Alekhine Alert, NM Bryan Tillis' The Dark Knight Rises Chessable course, or GM Roeland Pruijssers' recent Lifetime Repertoires: Alekhine Defense Chessable course) will recommend that you play the Larsen.

I second the recommendation of the Alekhine for this rating range. It is a very aggressive and tactical opening that carries a lot of venom and is much much easier to learn than the Sicilian Defence.

If you want something more solid, than the Qa5 Scandinavian is also a fine offbeat opening that is quite easy to learn (I highly recommend the Scandinavian Supercharged course on Chessable).

Qd6 Scandinavian is what I'd be tempted for an offbeat.

There's good literature on it. Also, positions you get from the opening should be equal.

I will always recommend the Sicilian to anyone, particularly if they're passionate about it and willing to dedicate themselves to it like I have been. It is worth it.

On the topic of offbeat weapons though, then I would say the Alekhine fits this topic the best. It's a very interesting choice to create imbalance with a fierce reputation. Players who underestimate it can get a nasty surprise.

Well, you guys have convinced me. I'll look into the Alekhine's over the weekend and try it next week. I'll let you know how it went once I've played a couple games

Another very important line to look at in the Alekhine is 2. Nc3. Strong players will play 2. e5, but Nc3 shows up about 50% of the time at amateur level. Here Black has two choices: transpose to a Vienna with 2. ... e5 (which is objectively equal and why GMs don't like 2. Nc3) or go for dynamic equality with 2. ... d5. This is called the Scandinavian variation because often you will transpose to a good version of the Scandinavian Defence where Black can play aggressively. One line to do some research on is the Spielmann Gambit as it can be very dangerous to face if you're not prepared for it (but if you are prepared for it, you'll be up a pawn and consolidate).

That's true, sometimes you have to be prepared for lesser lines. You can't always get the the sharp Four Pawns Attack or something that you expect.

Same with Alapin Sicilian or Exchange French.

I guess the point of the pawn sac is to divide the kingside and queenside in black's camp and open the e8-h5 diagonal. g6-Bg7-0-0 looks sensible?