Should beginners play the English?

As a relatively new chess player I have always stuck to 1.e4 in keeping with the advice of many more experienced players. 1.e4 is suggested as being a good way to learn tactical combinations and achieve sharp positions. 

I have recently begun to play the English however and am starting to "study" the opening variations quite enthusiastically. My success with 1.c4 is hit and miss, sometimes I am clearly outclassed or the game is decided by a subtlety that was invisible to inexperienced eyes at the time. 

Do you think I'm wasting my time, here? I've heard that the English is a great way to "avoid theory" but that it can also transpose into another kind of game that will suddenly require a broad opening knowledge. 

Did you play the English while you were still a novice? Do you play it now and have any advice? Does it require more or less theory than 1.e4 ? 

Should a beginner play the English? 

No. Beginners should play exclusively classical openings- else chances are they will never learn playing chess. They don't even need any theoretical knowledge past move five or six- the opening fundamentals and principles are more than enough.

short answer no the english requires positional knowledge that can only be obtained through time and experience

wrong English is good but could be better if c4 e5 and g3 you will have good game 

I stand corrected- I can't dispute your authority, and your massive USCF rating.

Right after you get familiar with classical openings, AND having a generic knowledge of queen's gambit/queen's pawn openings. That means somewhere around candidate master level.

The openings are a terrible trap for new players who are trying to improve.  I think the appeal must be that you get to try out what you practiced immediately in your next few games.  Changing your openings isn't helping you to learn chess though.  Tactical puzzles are probably necessary, but if you want to study, learn about endgames and pawn structures and strategy.  Play over games from top players and notice the types of maneuvers they try.  Play many games yourself and analyse them afterwards.

Memorizing many openings lines may be fun, but it's largely a waste of time.  As others said stick to classical openings 1.e4 e5 or 1.d4 d5, claim come center, develop, and castle.  This is all the opening knowledge you need.  This is not where or why you will lose and win your games, and it's not where you can build a foundation for further progress in chess.

No! English is for advance player only. I seen low rated player from chess club stay low rated because they have a poor foundation. IM. Pfren absolutely correct stay with  classical opening: first 1.e4 than 1.d4.

 When I first started playing in my chess club my rating was 1162 USCF, within a year and half my rating jump to 1800 USCF and year and half later I am an expert with 2019 USCF.  My top rating is 2110 USCF. I contribute this to playing 1.e4.  I have a friend who was in the 1400 USCF for years until he started playing 1.e4 and his shot up to 1800 USCF. There one stubborn friend who plays The Birds 1.f4 and the English 1.c4 and he is still a low rated player, his highest rating was 1650 and now his current rating is 1495 USCF, what a price to pay for not listening to good advice. 

Somehow, in someway, shape, or form, that picture above does not make sense (text).

Sure why not - play whatever....

My advice is to keep on playing the English. I got some experience even though I`m not a strong Chessplayer, but it still dosent keep me from playing the English opening. Its often a surprise opening for your opponent if they are rated below 1300. Its quite similar to the Sicilian Defense "Old Sicilian" a system which I love. Keep on prepping your English opening. Sooner rather than later you`ll learn to handle the common answers then you should practise midgame and endgame theory. I`ve found out that you almost never screw up a game at the opening if your theory is in order. Good luck playing the English:) It leads to an amusing midgame:)

Kind Regards

KnightsRuleTheGame

Thanks for the replies. 

I think I understand why positional play should be delayed somewhat by the total novice, but when exactly one is supposed to start is unclear to me.

Obviously a general knowledge of openings and a solid ability to solve basic matig/endgame problems is a necessity for all players, but it seems absurd that you ought to delay playing an opening like the English until you're a "serious" chess player. 

Play whatever you like, it's your right to do so.

Just don't complain if you fail to make any progess regarding the quality of your play after some time...

Is there some david-vs-goliath database of games out there where lower-rated club players pull wins out of their rear ends against stronger ones by simply being better memoriz..err...booked up? :)

well look at tony kostens book were he explains the ideas and plans, i mean i can´t understand why knowing such plans would not help an improving player??

I realy can´t understand why knowing more plans and techniques is supposed to hinder someones development???

shouldnt that broaden ones horizon, shouldnt that knowledge not be usable in other instances, doesn knowing more techniques and plans give your imagination more to work with???

@ Tetsuoshima: I did not accuse you that you understand.

I will also recommend the Engish to all newbies whenever I publish my book on it- for sure.

well you got a point with that.

What exaclty do you mean, pfren? 

I mean that when advertising a product I would mostly care to sell, without bothering much about its usability.

Ah of course... Obvious now. 

In any event... How exactly does one know when they are ready enough to play the English? Are you serious about "candidate master" level?