how do you use openings???

You must understand basic opening principles in order to be able to exploit your opponent's deviations in the opening. I found Nimzovitch's advice and analysis in "My System" very helpful in this regard, with his emphasis on gaining tempi in the opening.

You order used copies of it fairly cheap at AbeBooks.com.

This book had an enourmous effect on my chess playing.  I'd played as a kid and learned a few things, I'd read a lot of books in high-school and learned a little more, but when I read this book, it really helped a lot.

It explains several of the more popular openings, and at least a few of the less popular ones.  And it explains, move by move, why that move was made.

Most opening books show the moves, but do little to explain *why* that's the best move.  This one, however, explains the why - and that's what helped me so much.

I'm not a hot-shot chess player, and I don't try to memorize openings.  But reading through (and playing along with) the openings in this book will help with the original posters problem.  It did for me.

I really would like to thank all of you Chess Connoisseurs for offering me answers to this question. I have read this post about ten times now and I am still think I am learning something from your answers. thank you

"how do you use openings???"

I use openings as a way of dealing with the awkward time when you are sitting across from an opponent and no one is doing anything.

You get a D- for your boring essay.

If you problem is knowing what to do when you oppenent deviates from the main lines of an opening, study one or two simple openings and know them well enough to be able to punish your opponent when he/she slips. Scholars mate, the fried liver attack, and the ponzianii are good begginner opennings.

Scholars Mate FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!