Advice for beginner, what opening gives the best chance of winning?

Hello everyone, 

So, I am very new to chess and seem to always be at a disadvantage from the start, what's your recommendation for the first 5 or so moves? I have been trying different techniques but most seem to fail.  Thanks.

Chess Openings Tier Lists by GM Hikaru Nakumura and IM Levy Rozman

Chess openings are rated in terms of their appropriateness vis-a-vis player skill level - i.e., beginner vs intermediate vs GM’s, etc. For each of the openings discussed be sure to pay attention to whether the evaluation is from White’s or Black’s perspective. They also frequently refer to some openings as "garbage" or "bad"; these qualifiers are used in the context of, for example, how much so-called "theory" (i.e., documented variations) the opening encompasses, or how much emphasis the opening places on positional versus tactical skills in order to play it well. For example, an opening they refer to as "garbage" (an unfortunate choice of terms) for a beginner may in fact be appropriate for higher rated players who typically know more theory for the openings they play and have a more highly developed understanding of positional concepts.

The Chess Openings Tier List for Beginners…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9CwH47r6og
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHsb7-LbC34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3FBRlzSMHc

The Chess GAMBITS Tier List for Beginners…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9N6Bo7BBPg

The Chess Openings Tier List for Intermediate players...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq_rEYTiLy4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCVdrmKHdiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pblb8ZQ3OJ4

The Chess Openings Tier List for GM's...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glMp0dNGPN4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vzDjlu-96s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HShiBcGbfeA

Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Learn an opening and stick with it

Right at your skill level I would not be focused specifically on a particular opening. I would focus on 1. learning and applying the the opening principles in your game consistently. You should run every move you make in the opening through them. If they don't meet at one of the principles then don't play the move, unless absolutely necessary to meet a threat that is not able to be meet with following one or more of the principles. Here is an article that talks about them: https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-principles-of-the-opening

2. Tactics: learn tactics, and do tactics puzzles. This will help you to not drop pieces in general, especially in the opening, and also help you throughout the entire game.

for black definetely kings indian because you avoid all opening traps
london is gr8 i still play it because its so solid but can get boring

I think part of the fun of growing as chess players, no matter what our levels, is that we can make our own paths, based on what interests us, while also taking notice of what those wiser than us in the field have advocated for.  Capablanca famously said that chess should be studied from the ending, working backwards.  Other coaches have warned of time wasted by beginners devoting a disproportionate amount of time to opening study.  Yet Pandolfini ran into problems with his students when he tried taking Capablanca's words strictly and literally.  His (beginning to intermediate, I am guessing) students were frustrated that after devoting all of their time to ending study, they never (or rarely?) made it to an ending in their games.  And every game has an opening.

Another thing those wise teachers and great players always recommend is to look at entire games, from beginning to end.  Here is one way that I attempt to apply both the "whole game study" principle and Capablanca's "ending first" principle.  I study an anotated game (usually from a book on an opening that interests me), and enter all of the moves into the computer, trying my best to ignore the author's notes. (Though I can't help but get the gist of some of them as they are there on the page, and can be interesting!) Then I try to play the winning side against the computer after the loser resigns (if not a draw.)  It is usually quite humbling to see that a position that was so obviously lost to a master can be challenging for me to beat!  I learn what I can by making multiple attempts, thinking on my own as much as I can, but taking hints from the computer when stumped.  Then I look at at last notes, testing my questions with the computer.  Then the second to the last, third to the last, etc. till I work my way back to the opening, which is often what the book is supposed to be about.

This is just my way of exploring; you will find your own.  As for which openings -- some say limit them as much as possible -- something for white that deals with the most common defenses against your chosen first move, and defenses as black to counter the most common first moves of white.  "Alpha Team" says "I would not be focused specifically on a particular opening", and I think what he says also makes sense.  Principles are good to know, while looking at actual games complements your knowledge of principles by seeing how often there are exceptions to rules, and how messy things can get, as when one has to decide which principle to prioritize.

Well, now I'm interested in your journey, so keep us posted.

J. J., the Nimzo-American Patzer

Select some easy opening and opening patterns. Srat with 5 move; not more until you are ready.

Colle with c3 or London as white ( if 1.d4 Nf6 so 2.Nf3; if 2.-g6 3.Nd2 = Carlsen´s Anti Kings Indian).

French FortKnox and Dutch Leningrad as black. That is all you need.

Five moves to start with and then expand with a plan; not more memorizing moves. It will come.

Then you have a good start from which you can move on with confidence.

You will never lose in the first 5 moves if you just bring out your pieces into play. Do not worry about openings. Play your e-pawn and your d-pawn. Bring your knights out to their natural squares. Find good squares for your bishops. Castle O-O to bring your king to safety and to connect your rooks.

Italian Game is very popular among your level. But, pick an opening that you feel the most at home at, so any opening works! Also, try to apply opening principles instead of memorizing lines.

My suggestion is Italian Game. Why? It is simple and logical. Control the centre, develop your knights and bishops, castle and connect your rooks. It encourages early kingside development and castling. It introduces important themes such as f7/f2 weakness. As others have said, also learn and apply Opening Principles. When your opponent makes a move your not familiar with, assess their threats, if you're not concerned then continue development. Good luck.

@PickledPorkChop got in there first. Must type faster.

All good points. I've heard is said that "opening theory is for masters - beginners should work on endgame theory". So just stick with the principles of opening play - develop pieces, build a strong pawn formation, control the center. Don't waste time gobbling seemingly free pawns - they come at a cost. Study the various endgame situation. Also, work on tactics puzzles - pin, spear, fork, discovered check, unsupported piece...

N

Im going to share one of your games so I can give you some constructive criticism. 

Throughout the opening stage, you needlessly pushed pawns and blundered material and just gave your opponent a massive advantage (although he didnt see qh5+). opening theory wont help you because you wouldnt know why you played it anyway. you really just need to learn the opening principles at this point (Develop your pieces, control the center, Castle your king, etc), opening theory comes later. (And im usually the person that advocates for beginners learning openings but jesus)

I thought beginners should be learning basic principles: pawn structure, placing pieces on good squares, etc.

PPC- I think we're in agreement here.

depends what works for you.

Caro Kann, if I said, ''That's the one!'' and you don't know how to defend against it, then why play it? Learn it and all variations like I did then play it. If you do Scandinavian and you play it well, it's an opening you're used to and you have more chance of winning, than the Caro Kann.q 

Kann.**

You could try a trap, I guess. Otherwise just go 1.e4 e5 2.nf3