need black opening for beginner level

If you're willing to really take a lot of time to study the opening, the Sicilian Defense is a good choice, but I'm warning you: there are tons of lines and variations, and it is very theory heavy, so it probably isn't a great idea just yet.

I personally like Owen's Defense (1... b6), even though most people don't. I recommend you give it a look. It's not too hard to learn, and it works well for me.

Another choice is the Scandinavian Defense. This is a solid opening for black, but is weak against stronger players. However, it should be fine at your level.

ty times ten, i will put this in my notes on board... owen's defense and scandianavian defense sound like (will look them up on this site to see what they are) and also look at sicilian defense taking your caveat to heart, sounds like to learn it and "play around with it" for a while to learn it (with most of games being the first two given you mention how many lines to see with the better but more layered sicilian....

being French i am motivated to learn that one though will look it up with some trepidation that it will involve quickly raising a white flag....

ty guys, i am good at tactics (again for 11-14 players) IF i am can be "even" after 10 or so moves

As a beginner, I dont think you should be seriously studying any openings. I don't think that a lack of knowledge of openings for Black is your problem, rather I would say you are just struggling to play Black. The difficultly with Black is that you are starting at a disadvantage and you need to overcome that, so reacting to some of your opponents moves in the beginning will be necessary. I think you would develop strong as a player if instead of memorizing other peoples ways of doing this you should learn to look at what white is doing and try to set up in a way that you view as best. This should help your chess game more overall and then as you reach higher levels you can then start studying opening libraries. Also I think that varying the openings will keep the game fun for you as a beginner because using the same opening repeatedly can make chess a little stale after awhile.

french dxe4 can be played.

that was a helpful board to review and solid comment... but not sure i will take your advice to heart given i am pretty sore over how your flyers beat my red wings up this past game!!!!

It was because the flyers don't study openings, they fly by the seat of their pants (no pun intended). But I'm actually from Buffalo so I'm more of a Sabers fan.

Okay, now we can be friends.  I graduated from Michigan State (where your goaltender, Miller, led team to a national championship).

Of course just being silly and having fun.  But I do get what you are saying.  I have run across a guy screen name jemini or something and once was wondering what the hold up was since I saw he was online and not making move... the dude like 300 games in progress... I took it that he was playing by feel, just flying through them all on gut and vision.

I think Yermo's advice on this question is best.

Play classical openings.

against 1. e4 play e5.

against 1. d4 play d5.

Study your games, look at how the old masters played etc.

If you want to be almost guaranteed the opening of your choice with black try d6 and learn the pirc. e4 d6 d4 knf6 knc3 g6 ect.

As far as just reacting, try using the Analysis Board.  Flip the board each time for each person's move and take notes.  Play how you would play and SEE what happens to you.  It's great for strategy moves, but usually only for about 4 or 5 ahead.

As for opening, well, there is no ONE correct answer.  For every player there is an opponent who will have, "been there, done that".

Don't beat yourself up over it.  I've been playing for over 40 years and still don't have even a favorite opening move for black.

ty Rainbow2... we have played before... i am using some of advice for "those times" - for a few days see board well and can give people a game, even 13/14 players then have those time periods, guess working two jobs affects alertness, where i just can only see most obvious reactionary move and those boards get messed up for me very fast (since opponent working a plan and i can't see one) and thusly seeking to learn basics for those nearly mindless days

LOL. I love it. I always thought the same thing when I heard the name "French Defense."

I am a fairly low level player myself, but I will pass along some good advice that I received.

As a low level player, don't spend to much time on opening theory.  You can spend some, but no more than probably 20-30% of your study time.  Tactics training, some endgame study, and the basics of middle game positions will take you farther than spending all your time on the opening.

When you do study the opening, dont just try to remember lines out of a book.  You have to understand what is actualy going on, for two reasons.  First of all, at lower levels of play your opponent might not know the "book" response, and you have to know what you are trying to do in the first place with the opening if he plays a week move, so you can find a strong, logical continuation from the point you leave theory.  Also, your opponent might have a surprise or obscure line prepared (or simply a line you do not know), and again you are going to have to be thinking for yourself early on.  Knowing a few lines with understanding is better for a lower level player than trying to commit lots to line to memory without a sense of the "why" behind the moves."

As for a specifc system to play, I stick with classics.  I play d4 as white, and play e5 agaist e4 (followed by the Petroff if white playes nf3) and d5 agaisnt d4.  I prefer solid over sharp and try to play for positional gains (well, at least in theory, I can be tempeted into an unsound attack as well as anyone else). 

At club level play, the opening is not as critical as it is in master level chess.  High level players are fighting for tiny positional advantages in the opening.  Down in the trenches  where I play there are likely to be several inaccuracies on each side before all is said and done, so the small margin one way or another that one side might have coming out of the opening is less critical.   If you can simply avoid major errors and have a solid position to begin your middlegame play you can claim mission accomplished for your opening.

every opening is good if you know how to play it. I would suggest that you pick a opening that suits your style of play. Are you a defence or attack minded once you find out what type of game you like pick one for e4 or d4 and stick to it. I like the french but it is well known and if you go by the book moves you may have no advantage. After the first couple of moves try something that is not in any books or not well known you may be surprised how many people move but dont understand why.

Agreed with weedon.  For a beginner, having a set response for each common first move like e4 or d4 that you are comfortable with is pretty important.  I wouldn't go too deep into opening study just yet.  I think it's best that you improve your tactics in all phases of the game before going deeper.  As others have said, keep it simple, and remember, stick with what's comfortable for you.  I tried playing in a Chess.com tourney once and played all sorts of openings I never really played before in my games as white.  Ended up getting beat up in all except the one where I played normally.