Too many openings

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aleksosis

I'm intermediate but currently in a slump.

 I'm not sure this is normal but I did a tally on the number of openings and defenses I regularly use. I use about ten black variations! Is that normal? I tailor each defense to white's moves. It feels like too many to memorize. Is there a trick to reducing this number? I started off as a strong player using the Ruy Lopez but I hit a wall because of the countless variations so I'm slowly learning a different opening with mixed results but my issue is now with black. I can only memorize about seven moves in each before I start to make inaccuracies. That's already seventy moves memorized just for black! Please help!

Chuck639

Wow. 

I play two defences and utilize the one as my mainline and the other a sideline when I have the white pieces. Easy peasy.

jmpchess12

Don't memorize opening moves, learn principled play.

For example if you play 1.e4 you could memorize a second move for all of black's second moves or you could say "if black allows it I'm going to take the center with 2.d4." That means you'll need a different plan for 1.e5, 1.c5, 1.d5, 1.Nf6, 1.f5 and play 2.d4 against the other 15 legal chess moves. So then we have these 5 moves that stop (or at least make it less appetizing) 2.d4. Well 3 of them attack the e4 pawn so we need to take immediate action with that pawn. Easy enough to remember. The other two control d4, so we can either develop a piece (Nf3, Bc4, Nc3) or prep d4 (c3 Nf3). Nf3 accomplishes both so it's considered the most principled move against both e5 and the Sicilian. 

So to sum up, when 1.e4 is played you can remember 3 principles to determine second move. Plan A) if black allows it play d4 to take the center. Plan B) if black attacks the e4 pawn take appropriate action depending on the nature of the attack. Plan C) if black controls d4 with a pawn develop the King's knight to develop a piece and prep d4. Versus pure memorization 20 moves and 20 responses has been simplified to 3 basic responses. 

Once you start playing opening moves on principled play, you'll find you play correct openings with little memorization. Then it becomes a matter of stylistic choices and remembering when concrete factors force "unnatural" moves. 

owenhealey
I agree with jmpchess12. Another thing you could do is learn setup based openings to get you out of your slump. For example the Pirc and KID for black and the London, colle or Torre as white.
AtaChess68
Thx jmpchess, that sounds logical but I never thought of it that way.
ssctk

Don't memorise, memorisation is needed only in forced lines of only-moves. Get a book or course in the opening you play to understand why it's played that way.

Before making each move, play through the narrative behind it in your head. If you don't remember a narrative being there, treat it as a middlegame position, evaluate the position, calculate and make your own move.