Opening Repertoire

I am planning on creating an opening repertoire, I already have an opening for White and Black but I don't know when to stop adding moves and variations. Can anyone guide me on how to properly prepare an opening repertoire?

I'm using Chess Positions Trainer in preparing my repertoire, anyone out there who has used this program? 

Buy some books about your openings to learn basic ideas,typical structures and so on. You wont get far by just making lots of variations in certain openings without having seen thematic games with typical ideas and plans. go get chessbase,chessable is also an interesting site

I have some books already at hand, and some chess videos as well regarding my openings. But I still feel lost. The book rattles long variations and I can't cope up.

I highly recommend knowing how to play the positions of your opening choices rather than memorizing moves. Buy a few books on your opening choices and make an effort to understand how to play various positions and pawn structures. You'll be lucky to find players at our level that know 10 - 25 moves of theory.

How to Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire by Steve Giddins.  

A book to guide you in the considerations involved in choosing your openings - the title says it all. 

For some opening repertoire suggestions by GM Nigel Davies and IM Andrew Martin, see:

IM Martin's repertoire...(click the icons with downward pointing arrows to download the pgn files)...

http://www.chesspublishing.com/content/repert.htm

GM Davies' repertoire...

http://www.chesspublishing.com/content/repert2.htm

Finally, the following articles relating to choosing an opening repertoire are interesting and informative...

http://www.mark-weeks.com/aboutcom/aa02i07.htm

http://grandpatzerchess.blogspot.com/2007/03/openings-for-improving-players-part-1.html

http://grandpatzerchess.blogspot.com/2007/03/openings-for-improving-players-part-2.html

http://grandpatzerchess.blogspot.com/2007/03/openings-for-improving-players-part-3.html

https://www.chess.com/article/view/learning-an-opening-to-memorize-or-understand
https://www.chess.com/article/view/3-ways-to-learn-new-openings
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-understand-openings
"... Overall, I would advise most players to stick to a fairly limited range of openings, and not to worry about learning too much by heart. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
"... Once you identify an opening you really like and wish to learn in more depth, then should you pick up a book on a particular opening or variation. Start with ones that explain the opening variations and are not just meant for advanced players. ..." - Dan Heisman (2001)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf
"... To begin with, only study the main lines ... you can easily fill in the unusual lines later. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... 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)
"... If the book contains illustrative games, it is worth playing these over first ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... the average player only needs to know a limited amount about the openings he plays. Providing he understands the main aims of the opening, a few typical plans and a handful of basic variations, that is enough. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
"... For inexperienced players, I think the model that bases opening discussions on more or less complete games that are fully annotated, though with a main focus on the opening and early middlegame, is the ideal. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2010)
"... Everyman Chess has started a new series aimed at those who want to understand the basics of an opening, i.e., the not-yet-so-strong players. ... I imagine [there] will be a long series based on the premise of bringing the basic ideas of an opening to the reader through plenty of introductory text, game annotations, hints, plans and much more. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627055734/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen38.pdf
"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." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)

Thank you for all your advice, I'll check all of your suggestions.

The links are helpful! I am currently studying 1...Nc6 and IM Andrew Martin suggested it in thw Unorthodox Repertoire 

@kindaspongey i have an additional request : can you suggest some good reading on richter-rouzer for blacks play ? i am struggling to get one. 

This question is going well above my competence. I am not even sure that I can spell Rauzer. Have you tried The Richter-Rauzer Reborn?

https://www.denksportkampioen.be/store/p567/The_Richter_Rauzer_Reborn.html

For Sicilian questions, my usual fall-back position is to suggest Starting Out: The Sicilian, 2nd Edition.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627122350/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen123.pdf

I would think that there would be at least a little bit on your subject. Perhaps not very much.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627074459/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen85.pdf

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Explained_The_Classical_Sicilian.pdf

There seems to be a relevant chapter in Starting Out Classical Sicilian.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627130915/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen106.pdf

both of these books provide good coverage of the Richter-Rauzer (in an introductory-instructive fashion)...

https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Explained-Classical-Alex-Yermolinsky/dp/1904600425/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515422444&sr=1-2&keywords=classical+sicilian+chess

https://www.amazon.com/Starting-Out-Classical-Alexander-Raetsky/dp/1857445376/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515422444&sr=1-3&keywords=classical+sicilian+chess

That depends on the opening and the variation.  For example, I can easily rattle off 15 moves without thinking about it in one of the openings I play as Black!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.a4 a5 14.Nd3 b6 15.b4 axb4 and then it depends if White plays 16.Nb5, against which Black should play 16...Nf6.  The other option is 16.Nxb4, but it slows down White's attack at getting in the breaking move, c5.

Great handle @Obi-WanBenoni. I'm actually jealous!

@ThrillerFan: I can too: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 and now either 19... h5 or 19... Kh7.

Thanks, @Nic_Olas-- I got the idea from a fellow chess.com friend @kindaspongey

I am thrilled. Now, if only someone would discover a new Ruy Lopez variation and call it the Jennifer.

I wouldn't go deep in theory.

I would say most players from around 1700-Expert only have the first 7-10 moves memorized.

Learn basic plans and ideas. 

If there are certain plans and positions that stand out to you in certain variations, 'take a picture with your mind' of those positions. Then try and remember how to aim for those positions. 

Also, something I've been doing that has helped me go up 100 points in the past few days in blitz is....

Keep a log of your games. 

One of the questions I ask myself after every game is: "Did I get a playable position out of the opening?"

Additionally, by keeping track of your games, you'll start to notice what lines are giving you the most problems.

For example, I have a difficult time playing the London when black plays Bf5.

Also, I'm great at the french, unless white plays an exchange variation (surprisingly). Then, my winning % is lower. 

Once you have determined the lines that are giving you problems, go back and fix your opening there. You'll win more of those games and your rating will go up as you win more of those games.

A bunch of small tweaks, make big gains overall.