Should beginners memorise openings?

I am fairly new to playing chess (especially competition wise) and I am entering a “tournament” in my area. As far as I’m aware it’s just for fun - so there is no rating system etc. I have never played in a tournament or such in real life and I thought it would be good practice even if i lose. However I was wondering if I should try memorise openings to help me in the game. I have seen several people say that beginners shouldn’t worry about openings because “since you are playing people on your level it won’t matter” or something like that. Furthermore, since there is no rating system (because it’s for fun) I will probably be playing against much more experienced players. Long story short, since I will be playing people much better than me, should I try memorising openings to assist me?

If you are new then first learn and truly understand and apply the ‘opening principles’ (google or youtube). That is far far more efficient then learning an opening line.

Have fun!

I really appreciate this, thank you. I have started revising the principles and I am already feeling better! 😄

Thank you

Yes, but only 4 or 5 moves deep

Go away with the trolling.

would anybody recommend system openings? or just openings that are a bit beyond opening principles but maybe not like ruy lopez level theory?

When people give the advice to under-1000 players "don't worry about openings", they are not kidding. If you want to improve, don't think about openings at all. Think about tactics or endgames or chess psychology or anything.

There is nothing wrong with Ruy Lopez. That is one of the oldest and most tested openings that stands the test of time. On super GM level it is truly complicated in a strategical sense, but neither yourself nor your opponent will play it on master level, and you don't need too much theory, especially because most of the time Ruy will not give you some very sharp line.

There is theory sure, but you don't really have to know that much. At let's say sub 1 200 level just decide what you will do against 3. ...a6 and what against 3. ...Nf6, and follow principles, develop as fast as you can. Then you play a game and afterwards look if you did something wrong in the opening, getting better and better gradually.

I know that this trend of not playing Ruy Lopez is coming from Levy Rozman, but basically Ruy is infinitely times better to play (for those who wish to improve) than London System for instance, because you will play London System the same way almost every time, while after 1. e4 you will get a lot of different stuff.

And if you really wish to avoid main lines in Ruy, you can even do that. Like this:

If you wish to play 1.d4, then it is more interesting and useful to play 2.c4 and gradually see what to play against different stuff black will play against you than playing London System.

I am in the camp of beginners starting out playing less complex, theory – heavy (i.e., lots of documented lines and variations) openings that advanced players like to tout. The point being that for beginners the focus should be on learning to correctly apply opening principles and guidelines, not on having to deal with and striving to remember myriad, complicated variations of the venerated openings such as, for example, the Ruy Lopez which, of course, everyone will acknowledge is a great opening. But it is only great in the hands of one who has learned to play it well; otherwise it is just another complex, highly "theoretical" opening. As such, I contend that the Ruy and other similarly revered openings (e.g., the Queen's Gambit, the Sicilian Defense, to name a couple) are not easy openings for the beginner-novice to learn (i.e., to play well), and will not be much fun to play if one has not learned them well – an accomplishment which will require a LOT of time and effort compared to most of the openings which I suggest below. That is, there are many less complex openings which, with a little study and practice, can be not only fun but effective in competition at the improving amateur level (beginner through intermediate).

With that said, here are some of the 'easier' (with less 'theory', i.e., documented lines and variations, to learn) King pawn (1.e4) openings for White which are very playable at the amateur, club level. Typically, the 1.e4 games are so-called "Open" or "Semi-Open" games, where lines (files and diagonals) can more readily be opened so that the pieces are able to enjoy more scope and mobility. These games tend to promote play of a more tactical character as opposed to "closed" openings which are characterized in many instances by blocked or obstructed central files early in the game which tend to result in a more maneuvering, "positional" style of play....

Scotch Game & Gambit

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scotch+game

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_Game

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scotch+gambit

Ponziani Opening 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ponziani+opening

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponziani_Opening

Vienna Game & Gambit

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vienna+game

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Game

Introduction To The Vienna Game & Gambit

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-the-vienna-game-gambit

Against the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) which is, after 1…e5, the most frequent Black response to 1.e4, I recommend the Grand Prix Attack. Not only is it an effective reply to the Sicilian, and fun to play, but it has similarities to the Vienna Game (above), which makes these two openings much easier to learn together than two entirely different openings with very little in common. I comment more on this in my article…

Fighting the Sicilian With The Grand Prix Attack

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/fighting-the-sicilian-with-the-grand-prix-attack

The Italian Game – more challenging to learn (i.e., more 'theory') than the openings above, but comprising a very rich and sound opening complex, which can be played for your entire chess career, even at the highest levels. The Evans Gambit tends to produce some interesting and exciting games...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Game

Introduction to The Italian Game & Evans Gambit

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-the-italian-game

Bishop's Opening – this is not an opening per se, but an opening 'gateway' which begins 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 allowing for transpositions to a variety of openings (useful for keeping your opponents guessing!) including several of the above, especially the Italian Game...

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bishop%27s+opening

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop%27s_Opening

https://lichess.org/study/search?q=bishop%27s+opening

Introduction to Bishop's Opening - Kenilworth Chess Club...

http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/urusov/bishops/index.html

If you prefer to play 1.d4 as White, then among the 'easiest', yet sound and effective, openings to learn are the Stonewall Attack and the London System. I consider the Stonewall to be a precursor to the London System since there are some similarities in the Kingside attacking ideas/themes between the two. However, the Stonewall is the easier to play as there is less theory to learn. Both openings are very playable at the amateur, club level...

The Stonewall Attack...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/stonewall-attack

Introduction to the London System & Jobava London System

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/the-london-system

Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond…

ttps://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

To answer the OP's original question - understanding themes and plans is vastly more important and productive than memorization of lines devoid of understanding. Thus, make an effort to choose openings where the themes and plans (of not only the opening, but also of the ensuing middlegame) are straightforward and clear, and that will take you a long way.

I know it is tempting to memorize a few moves like a cheat code, but it won't help. Below 1000 players hang their pieces almost every other move. That's why games are lost. So just play logical moves in the opening and invest your time in playing slow chess and in seeing 1 move attacks.

Should you memorize? No.

Should you try to learn the basic goals of the opening? Yes.

Developing Your Pieces and King Safety should be the first two concepts that you'll want to learn about, when it comes to opening play.

Beginners... real beginners... play like this

Openings are meaningless.

Capture free pieces and you'll win.

Oh my gosh your me

Memorisation fails the moment opponent will make a move that you didn't look for. Too much work, too little reward. Especially at lower levels. At least you can predict what a solid player gonna do. That luxury doesn't exist with beginner purgatory.

But principles and understanding fail you less.

I think tactics are much more important at your stage. But being solid in the opening won't hurt. Pick something and try to look at common ideas and conceptions but don't go 10 moves deep in multiple lines.

openings dont matter at your level. just learn what tactics are and how to spot and find them, do puzzles, and the opening you should likely learn is the ruy lopez due to it being great for beginners. do not listen to the ídiots that tell you to play a system opening as you will never get better by playing the same opening that offers no chances for a win (i.e the london system)

By understanding the reason behind the opening moves you'll remember them without trying to memorize them. No need to memorize them. Just make sensible opening moves then outplay your opponent.

What happens when your opponent plays something that you didn't memorize?

Was it a bad move? Was it the end of your memorized line or did you just forget what the next move is supposed to be? Was it a perfectly acceptable sideline? What do you do now?

If you're just memorizing moves, you won't know the answer to those questions. Every move in an opening has a purpose, and the purposes behind each move work together to form a cohesive opening. You're not going to understand that with just memorizing moves, and you don't really have enough time to delve more deeply into any specific opening before the tournament.

Instead, you need to focus on the general opening principles, as they will get you through the opening reasonably safely and give you a playable middle game. More importantly, it will be one that you have a better understanding of the ideas - because you are forming them as you move.

1. Put at least one pawn in the center (d4/e4 or d5/e5), preferably two if you can do it safely.

2. Develop your pieces to safe squares - generally knights before bishops, and minor pieces before your queen. Rooks tend to be last because they need the rest of the first row cleared to work best.

3. Don't move pieces more than once in the opening unless you have a really good reason (e.g., you get to capture a piece for free, or you need to move it to safety)

3. Look for ways to punish an early queen move by your opponent (by developing a knight or bishop to attack it), or if they try to put a piece onto your side of the board.

4. Castle early - you don't have to do it by move 4, but your king should generally be tucked away by move 10 or so. This will also help your rooks to communicate with each other.

Perhaps most importantly at your level - 5. Don't leave your pieces in a situation where they can be taken for free, and do make sure to take your opponent's pieces when they leave them somewhere unsafe. Double and triple check to be sure all pieces (yours and your opponent's) are safe before you decide on a new move.

If you and your opponent both follow these general guidelines, you're going to find that you're following the mainline of an opening more often than not. Once you start noticing that you're playing the same moves and getting comfortable with certain setups, then you can start to look into what opening it is and start learning the deeper meanings behind the moves.

Memorizing the same openings neither gambits might be a bad idea. Cause in exchange, Non begginers can or has known your moves.