I need suggestions

I would like to get advice about which openings for white and black. I have been using the Colle for white and I totally wing it with black. I have tried the Sicilian Dragon but it all breaks down after a few moves. Suggestions please.

try some easier sicilian like kan or taimanov. Theory is not ad important there as in the dragon

You can always make theory.

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. Perhaps kennyj1957 would also want to look at Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006).

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf

"Each player should choose an opening that attracts him. Some players are looking for a gambit as White, others for Black gambits. Many players that are starting out (or have bad memories) want to avoid mainstream systems, others want dynamic openings, and others want calm positional pathways. It’s all about personal taste and personal need.

For example, if you feel you’re poor at tactics you can choose a quiet positional opening (trying to hide from your weakness and just play chess), or seek more dynamic openings that engender lots of tactics and sacrifices (this might lead to more losses but, over time, will improve your tactical skills and make you stronger)." - IM Jeremy Silman (January 28, 2016)

Also, perhaps look at:

https://www.chess.com/article/view/picking-the-correct-opening-repertoire

http://chess-teacher.com/best-chess-openings/

https://www.chess.com/blog/TigerLilov/build-your-opening-repertoire

https://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/how-to-build-an-opening-repertoire

In a 2006 GM John Nunn book, in connection with opening study, it is stated that, if a "book contains illustrative games, it is worth playing these over first", and the reader was also advised, "To begin with, only study the main lines - that will cope with 90% of your games, and you can easily fill in the unusual lines later."

"... I feel that the main reasons to buy an opening book are to give a good overview of the opening, and to explain general plans and ideas. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)

In one of his books about an opening, GM Nigel Davies wrote (2005), "The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line."

Thank you all for your input. Good advice. I will follow it.

That is nice! THank you.

My own rep contains the Colle but as black I specialise in Nc6 vs d4 and e4 but I have recently been looking at a Black Lion/Old Indian rep which might be useful idea for you. Simon Williams has a great video out on the Lion and Old Indian Move by Move is a great book. I used to play the Dragon myself btw

If you play the colle with white and are having trouble with black, I would try playing the french defence. It's not too hard to learn, but more importantly it leads to closed positions like the colle. Against d4, I would recommend the slav or queen's gambit declined.

Hi, 

I think that in your level you should try to play only the most aggressive openings. You should play 1.e4 and found some gambits against each line. With Black, you can try to play some open positions. 1.e4 e5 is a good option. You should increase your tactical ability and learn to play attacking chess with unbalanced material. 

" would like to get advice about which openings for white and black"

follow opening principles. trying to memorize opening lines will simply lead you to unnecessary dogmatism and when your opponent goes out of book, you'll be confused.

get the knights out, bishops out, don't hang pieces, don't hang kings, castle.

I think that the best advice that I can give you is to not waste a lot of time for openings. Just pick some more aggressive one and play it all the time. First  you will make some  mistakes, then you can analyze your games and little by little increase your understanding of the arising positions. If you want to learn, make yourself a training program and start following it, but the most important thing is to have fun. Good luck! Feel free to contact me for some tips and advices.

Don't play the QGA, it is not as aggressive as say the nimco-indian. It does not transpose much either.