What are good openings to study?
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trying to find great openings to study. I'm not great at rapid.
May 26, 2021
0
#2
Openings are over-rated by many and real opening study begins around 2000+ level (which most players never even reach anyhow). Openings are more about learning the general concepts and ideas; things like common plans each side has in that opening and not necessarily memorizing moves. Sub-1200 chess.com rating is a lot about simply following chess opening principles and doing so when the opponent is not is a big advantage:
https://www.chess.com/blog/KeSetoKaiba/opening-principles-again
If you really want to look into an opening, then I'd experiment a bit and see what you like. You can't go wrong with mainline openings and even some gambits can be useful for teaching concepts. I'd stay mostly on opening principles than actual openings for now though.
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
May 26, 2021
0
#4
FasterThanASpeedingBullet wrote:
trying to find great openings to study. I'm not great at rapid.
Opening study at your level is essential worthless, especially if all youre playing is speed chess.
:ohno
May 26, 2021
0
#7
DaBabysBurner wrote:
Italian is probably the Simplest e4 e5 opening for beginners
Nah Scotch
May 26, 2021
0
#8
ninjaswat wrote:
DaBabysBurner wrote:
Italian is probably the Simplest e4 e5 opening for beginners
Nah Scotch
The first chess opening I ever got into playing was the Scotch Game with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4. I still like the Scotch Game, but I since switched to playing 1. d4 
Kasparov used the Scotch Game to good success in the 1980s and it fit his tactical style for sure.
For 1. e4 beginners, you really can't go wrong with either of the big 3 mainlines:
(no particular order)
Italian Game: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
Ruy Lopez/Spanish: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Scotch Game: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
May 27, 2021
0
#10
I used the Scotch until I discovered the Vienna, now the Scotch is something I can pull out to surprise my opponents It's definitely the best for beginners, so many people take the knight on d4!!
May 27, 2021
0
#11
icyboyyy wrote:
ninjaswat wrote:
I used the Scotch until I discovered the Vienna, now the Scotch is something I can pull out to surprise my opponents It's definitely the best for beginners, so many people take the knight on d4!!
also a lot of people will play the classical variation with Bc5, and if they're not careful, you can win a piece with a discovered attack on the queen
Ya, sometimes I use the Potter variation instead though.
Yes
Oct 17, 2021
0
#13
Italian or Ruy Lopez. For the latter learn a simple opening repertoire: after e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bb5, your opponent will either play a6 or Nf6. For a6, play Ba4, then if the opponent plays Nf6 play d3. If the opponent just played Nf6 play d3.
My friend taught me this.
Oct 20, 2021
0
#16
Against e4 - French,
Against d4 - Nimzo-Indian / Queen's Indian [they go together],
As White - London System.
Oct 20, 2021
0
#17
Solmyr1234 wrote:
Against e4 - French,
Against d4 - Nimzo-Indian / Queen's Indian [they go together],
As White - London System.
I'm alright with your other picks but Queen's Indian is extremely complex and relies a lot on positional concepts which beginners usually don't have
I'd say an orthodox Queen's Gambit declined would be a better choice