Looking for suggestions.

I am looking for a simple opening for white that does not have a lot of variations to it. I tried to learn the English, but I'm not quite prepared for all the variety that black can throw at you on the 2nd move. If anybody has a good suggestion for a relative beginner please share them.

There ain't one! You just have to study or quit!

I'm not sure you could find an easy to learn opening for white that limits black's possibilities to respond. A system opening like the King's Indian Attack or London system would be the closest thing to what your asking in that you have a similar set up regardless of how your opponent plays in the first several moves. I think playing classical type openings (1.e4, 1.d4, 1.e5, 1.d5) is better though and to learn to develop pieces as rapidly as possible and see a variety of opening positions is better for you long term.

Hope you find a solution that works for you!

As kingseye said, you shouldnt be looking for an opening system if you want to improve.

Play 1.e4, all the tactics and the large variety of positions will help you improve.

The London System is solid. But the draw back here is it is a positional opening. most openings that do not require you to work on the lines are positional in nature. For the beginner you should try to play tactical opening. In the beginning chess is about the tactical shots you can play, not having a clear plan for a winning ending like the masters play. so put in the work and play 1.e4 and 1... e5 till you understand the winning tactics in chess then move on to the positional opening like the English.... good luck.

For a good way to start you should pay attention to chess champion, Yasser Seirawan's 5 basic principles of the opening:

1.  Mobilize you forces, i.e., don't take one or two of your power pieces and leave the others behind too long.  Attack in force!

2.  Create a home for your king

3.  Castle your king

4.  Connect your rooks, and castling your king helps this

5.  Control the center of the board,  hence most start with moving the king or queens pawn forward two spaces.  I prefer the queen pawn first.

Here is  good study plan. Play 1.e4

    IF 1...e5 then 2.Nf3 this could lead to many lines but the critical one for use here will be the scotch game.2...Nc6 3.d4 exd 4.Nxd4 there are fewer lines to study here and the positions are equal.

    IF 1...e6 then 2.d4 d5 3.exd the exchange variation. some say it is drawish but as a beginner we want open lines not complications. (The French Defense)

    IF 1...c5 then 2.c3 the Siscilan is the most common responce to 1.e4 this is the Alpine variation I sugjest spending some time on this one.

    IF 1...c6 then 2.d4 d5 3.exd again the exchange variation. for the same reason as above.(The Karo-Cann Defense)

    IF 1...g6, 1... b6 or any other opening that does not imedatly attack the center by pawn we play 2.d4 with the Idea of opening lines for our pieces.

   That leaves 1...d5 then 2.exd Qxd5 Nc3 the (Scandinavian Defence)

Probably the Parham Attack, one simple mainline.

I would work on analyzing your games. For example, pick either 1. e4 and 1. d4. If you meet something you are unfamiliar with that is great! Use the opening explorer or repost to the forums and as what line is recommended for white here, etc. This is the best way to expand you opening knowledge because play this game will make the experience more meaningful and, hence, give you a better chance to remember and make use of this knowledge.

Right I know the basic ideas of development. I guess I've just buckle down and learn an opening. Didn't know if there was one more complicated than the rest. I will follow his suggestions to use except for @trol's

I suggest the Italien opening.Gets your pieces started early in a good position. It is a lead into the famous Fried Liver trap. Black has to tread carefully.White has many variations available.Black has 3 moves available in ideal play. That means that in novice hands black can be in trouble fairly quickly

Learning openings is over-rated. Players rated below 1800 or so should focus on learning basic tactics (Pin, Fork, Skewer, Overload, Decoying, Line-Cutting, Sweeping and Sealing, etc) and Model Mates (Corridor Mate, Smothered Mate, Epaulette Mate, Broken Fianchetto Mate; Morphy, Philidor, Lolli, Greco, and Damiano Mates, etc). Then learn a bit about endgames, then typical middle-game plans. Opening study should come LAST.

After all... how will you even recognize an opening advantage, or know how to use it, until you've studied tactics, mates, endings and middle-games?

I agree with the others that 1.e4(which would be my suggestion) or 1.d4 would be more productive in the long run than trying to find some way to narrow things down to minimal variations to learn.  

...but if you do want to play around with a "system", you might take a look at the Polar Bear System of Bird's Opening. White is basically trying to play a Leningrad Dutch defense with the white pieces.  It's not simple, but I think it's more interesting than most of the other things people inclined to go that route tend to select(such as the London System.) And you still have to contend with lines that won't let you get a Leningrad Reversed (such as From's Gambit.)  Henrik Danielsen has a lot of videos about it on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFfQASWu-Bk

 Stay away from anything other then--e4/d4.Set aside time u do nothing but chess(something u stick to).A book on openings. Learn tactics on some chess site.Play games(1 move every couple of days) and do your best at seeing what is going on,with your opponent and your own moves.Write or keep track of the games and go over each move to sort out what was good and the not so good. Patience...patience,and hard work will bring chess rewards.      Good luck              p.s. there are no short-cuts

My suggestion is a bit different. I think you should try and experiment with all kind of openings, especially the major ones. Don't memorize any specific variation. Just play logically and with common sense. You will learn how to handle many kind of positions. You may even learn something about yourself: your strength and your weaknesses.

It is only in serious games you should narrow it down to openings that you know best.

This is what I have done the past few months and while I've gotten some bad positions out of the opening on more than several occasions I think the variety has helped me grapple with all sorts of different positions, some favorable others not so much, and I've learn a lot through them. I probably will begin to hone in on certain structures and aim for those more often soon, but I recommend this approach for a little while if nothing else to expose yourself to the numerous openings available and help figure out some you might like more than others and later decide to become more familar with.

I personally think you'd be best suited to try AAlekhine's advice. It is pretty much how I have learned. I think that from a tactical perspective, what you can find yourself having to deal with may be a bit overwhelming otherwise.

You seem light years ahead positionally than tactically, according to your profile. I have the same tendency, so your nature will tend to make you defensive until you know have it covered, then most likely you go for the throat like a mad dog.

Play 1.e4 and 1.e5 against it, until you have mastered getting past the crazy attackers who try the Fried Liver Attack and when you begin beating most of them, then consider the Sicilian, French or Caro-Kann as a 2nd defense.

Only use 1.d5 against 1.d4 for now and it will help familiarize you with the craziness that can ensue when queenside openings are played. When you tried the English, you got a taste of this.

1. e4 is often characterized by open positions, when the pawn chain is broken or pawns are gone from play. Though, these are usually more tactical in nature, it is usually less complex than 1.d4 openings can get. This will help you learn tactics so that you can be better prepared one day if you want to master 1.d4 someday.

Keep in mind the idea of mastering any one thing as it pertains to chess. Do you think the masters know it all ? No way, but you best believe they mastered atleast one opening for white and a few defenses or more with black.

If you stick to this, you will learn faster and win more games sooner, thus attaining a higher rating. This also makes for a better foundation to recognize themes that will occur as you begin to experiment with variations later. If you experiment with a bunch of things now, your road to learning will be winding, not make much sense, or have a clear direction and could cause you to feel very lost, chessically speaking.

As for specific openings for white, I prefer the Ruy Lopez. Some people may say it is too complicated for a beginner, but I think it is pretty easy to memorize. If someone plays the Sicilian Defense, play the Bowlder Attack ( same basic position as the Italian Opening for whites pieces). It is very similar to the Ruy Lopez. You begin to recognize these small changes as simply variations to your line of play.

This may seem like a lot to take in but, if you keep at it, it will work for you. Keep in mind, you can always refer back to this and the other posts here if you get overwhelmed, confused or need to verify anything. Don't forget to use the Games Explorer for ideas and use the tactics trainer regularly. Good luck.

@Paul_G I know you love to play chess. What books have you read? Chess is a scholastic game. Before studying openings, read Chess Fundamentals by Capablanca. It would be easier to study and understand openings once you have better understanding of chess fundamental principles. 

I agree with Mandy. If you haven't read Chess Fundamentals by Capablanca before, it is good to build your foundations with principles laid out by Capablanca. It is a good book.

I agree that e4/d4 should be the main focus as a beginner. Tactics a major concern, and understanding the "why" of your moves. There a number of books for beginners which explore most of the problems which you will encounter. As you progress, there is no problem with looking at the main opening lines, but I think the focus has to be in understanding "why" each move is played. Middle game and end game development is necessary and again there are many books available to help in these areas. Most of all, play as much as you can, nothing beats the learning curve. Also, feel free to ask about stuff in these forums...there are many strong players here, who are very helpful. You might also want to take advantage of the video lessons and other teaching aids available here, depending on your financial position.