Learning Openings

I have been playing chess for a few years now, but have only really started playing lots of games in the last few months (I have 25-30 games going at the moment). This is just something i'm curious about, is it necessary to learn mountains of theory behind lots of openings, and how many openings do you know, to how many moves? I don't know any real opening theories, move two is as far as it goes and i just wondered how many players actually know the main line for lots of openings.

 I'm guessing the answer to the above question will be something along the lines of, if you are a serious player. In which case, how would you suggest learning openings (playing, reading, discussing) and are there any that a player should know (particularly d4 and e4 openings)

Klunk> I'm guessing the answer to the above question will be something along the lines of, if you are a serious player.

My answer, based on your chess.com rating, would be that if you want to become a stronger player, learning basic opening principles is enough for now... focus most of your energy on mastering simple tactics (forks, skewers, discoveries) until you can see them without thinking. That's where you will win or lose games.

Once you go a few games without hanging any pieces or pawns then you should certainly consider learning more about strategy and openings.

> how many openings do you know, to how many moves?

A few very deep. Many to a few moves. But tactics, endgames, and strategy have all decided more of my games than openings... then again, it's somewhat artificial to dichotomize a game. I usually study openings by studying master games, but studying master games usually increases your knowledge of all phases at once.

You need to learn two openings. Two moves deep, maybe three. When you feel really familliar with these two openings you can add one or two more.

I'm actually semi-serious here. Reciting memorized moves is not only boring it's detrimental to your skill. This is why online chess isn't such a good way to get better at chess, reciting memorized (or not even memorized but copied from a database) moves are usually encouraged online.

I'm not saying that you should do anything to avoid playing mainline openings. They are played often for a reason, they're usually solid lines. But you shouldn't play a move "because that's the main line". After the first or second move you should already start playing chess and think about every move, know why you're doing it. The autopilot should be turned off after 3 moves tops.

play the reti or ponziani or the scoth game something to get your peices out and then just concentrate on the stragergy of middle game paly rather than just play opening really well and losing

 Thanks for the advice, i am quite often under the impression that the opening moves for games should come from a textbook as players are often quoting that something is the main line or that is the usual follow up move. I do appreciate of course that these are often solid, but i just wanted to know whether i should be learning lots of openings.

I will study my main ones and look at popular openings (if i play as black)