Other openings for beginners

Hello every one,

I am new at chess. I learned the basics a month ago. I learned that it is important to control the centre so I always start with e4 . ( sometimes with d4).

Now the first 5 or six moves from me and my opponents are always the same moves. So I want to learn other openings but I am afraid if I don’t start at the centre, I’ll lose the game. 

Which other openings besides d4 or e4 can you recommend to a beginner ? And most important why? What are the pro’s when I use the opening you recommend?

p.s: yes ! My vocabulary is bad! Yes, my grammar is bad too! I don’t speak English... so I kinda knew that allready before you mentioned it. ..

For those who actually are helpfull. Thank you! I really appreciate it.

Better use of time would be understanding endgames an drill tactics. Nothing wrong with e4 e5, d4 d5. You can youtube various openings to see if you want to try them. Caro kann, kings indian etc...

Chess opening principles like this

https://www.chess.com/blog/KeSetoKaiba/opening-principles-again 

are useful, but as for specific openings - really anything solid is playable. Any mainline is on the table (even if not 1. e4 e5 or 1. d4 d5) You just don't want to learn an opening really well and then find out it is not good against good chess players; then you'd have to relearn a new opening. 

The danger with learning some deep mainlines is that the theory might get too complicated, or chess play too sharp in nature, for a beginner to grasp. IM Levy Rozman @gothamchess has a video I like on this that recommends openings based on your rating. 

Personally, I did not agree with some of his opening recommendations - but his reasoning at least convinced me that it is justifiable. 

This was very useful thanks. Especially the part about developping the Bishops before knights is very interesting .

I also did find out that the Réti opening came out well for me for some reason...

Good point... I played the Isabel bot the other day. I was playing good ‘till I made a blunder in the endgame. No doubt I need to work on my endgames too. 

you should always play e4 or d4 on the first move, c4 once you're more experienced (f4 if you're crazy). Other than the classical nf3 and bc4, maybe try nc3, The Vienna game, or 2. f4, the Kings gambit, which will really test your attacking ability

Funny you mention c4... ‘cause I planned trying the English opening in my next game. But you won’t recommend it to beginners?  Ok... I will try the other openings. Thanks!

well if you got the opening prep ready then go for it, but other than that it's just a lot more different stuff you have to learn. I'd stick to e4 because I find it exciting but try some different gambit lines, or open games and see what you like. It takes a while to find an opening right for you. (I still haven't really found mine yet)

Yeah I guess I still have to find out what type of player I am. The aggresive player or a standard or whatever type of player exists... 

The Réti openings seems to work with me so far. 

If all your games are starting with the same few moves, that's good. Learn the variations a few moves deeper - or look those moves up on a database to make sure there isn't some sneaky way of getting an opening advantage that you're missing. Try to understand the position more deeply than your opponents do. Much better than changing for the sake of it.

I think the type of player you are changes over time as you gain more experience and confidence