Openings only exist "for both sides." You need both the white and the black moves to make up, for example, the Ruy Lopez. It's not just a good idea to study both sides of the opening...there's literally no choice.
Question about studing openings
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Jun 9, 2013
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A Prime Example as to why you can't just memorize your own moves. Let's say we are talking Ruy Lopez here:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5 O-O Be7 is the "First 5 Moves" of the main line of the Ruy Lopez.
Now, let's just focus on White. Let's say after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 (The Berlin Defense), does 4.Ba4 even make sense? Absolutely NOT!
After 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5, does 3.Bb5+ make any sense? Uhm...NO!
What about 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nf3? Uhm, again, NO!
So you can't just say "I'm going to play 1.e4, 2.Nf3, 3.Bb5, 4.Ba4, and 5.O-O". You aren't playing a Ruy Lopez simply because you follow White's moves. It's the specific position as a result of the specific moves by both sides that you have a Ruy Lopez.
My Ruy Lopez was ruined in just three moves by my opponent's O'Kelly Sicilian.
And don't even ask how my Tromp worked out against the French.
Phant0mz wrote:
Hi, in the opening study plan for beginners, I have a question about step 3.
"memorize the first 5 moves in these openings" Does it mean memorize the black moves too ? Also, for the Ruy Lopez (spanish game) opening, even if I see 24% chances for black of winning vs 38% for white, are the black moves the "right" ones or they are random moves to explain the white opening? In general, when you study opening, do you study both sides? Thank you.
Wait... Studying openings and your opponents' reactions to those openings??? What happens if your opponents don't react as expected?
Chess is like boxing. In boxing, you are taught to watch your opponent's feet and body motion. In chess, you react to your opponent's moves.
Expect the unexpected.
I have never understood this "memorize the first 5 moves in your opening" thing. There is already a problem if someone has to memorize that he should develop the knight to f3...
Just know and understand the opening principles and you are ok.
That step is just familiarizing you to mainline openings, click on the opening given, play through the first 5 moves a couple of times trying to understand them, go to the next one. If you want you can review some games in those openings but I don't think it's really necessary.
Such a seemingly innocent question, PhantOmz; you may be puzzled by the intensity of many replies. This is the latest skirmish in the great "openings" debate. Allow me to be Devil's Advocate and present the other side 
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What? Are you people playing in another universe? All my games start with openings and of course it is a legitimate use of his time to learn a few major openings a few moves deep. Opening principles can be seen in action by following a few openings "every move explained" style. Bang for the buck timewise is opening study best? No, of course not. Tactics, elementary end game study, basic checkmates, and opening principles are all he needs to open up his board vision and cut down blunders. My advice is to not limit youself to the few listed in beginner. No, I say learn the first 4 to 5 moves of all 35 openings listed for intermediate. Get started now; just make sure you're learning them, not memorizing a list. FCO or Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul van der Sterren would be a worthy purchase to learn ideas and typical plans. Some of it at this point may end up being "art history" instead of "studio" time, but it's not a bad thing to learn the classic landscape of the game.
I don't think there is any harm in studying openings, as long as you don't get hung up with move orders. It's more important to understand why the moves are being made more than being obsessed with move orders. From personal experience, unless you're playing at a level a whole lot higher than I do, your opponent will be "out of book before you hit five moves. Frankly, you'd be better served by learning principles of opening play before undertaking serious study of move orders.
Hi, in the opening study plan for beginners, I have a question about step 3.
"memorize the first 5 moves in these openings" Does it mean memorize the black moves too ? Also, for the Ruy Lopez (spanish game) opening, even if I see 24% chances for black of winning vs 38% for white, are the black moves the "right" ones or they are random moves to explain the white opening? In general, when you study opening, do you study both sides? Thank you.