You will learn them by playing games. For instance, if you decide to go for Ruy Lopez after e4 e5, you will know 3 moves automatically just by playing the opening. Then you will play games, analyze them, and you will see that after h6 you will play Ba4. You will learn that c3 is sometimes a good idea in that opening, that common knight maneuver Nd2-Nf1-Ng3 etc. You will learn some motifs without actually memorizing the variation by heart. Gradually, your knowledge will increase about many other openings you play even though you do not memorize by heart.
At some moment you will feel comfortable to look for youtube videos and watch some of the preferred variations. Then you will look at master games in the opening of choice. By doing all that you will know more about openings you play...
After all of that, if you progress really far (1 700, 1 800, 2 000, I don't know) you might consider learning opening theory by heart to some depth.
I can tell you now, I am around 1 500, and I haven't even started studying master games and I feel that I am pretty ok opening wise for my level, even though I practically don't know anything special. I know some ideas, I have a feeling where to put the pieces and I know the first few moves, but that is it. It is much more important to stop blundering pieces and learn to actually play chess.
People rated below 1 200 often just push pawns, many don't even follow opening principles.
What rating should I start using actual openings?
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Dec 2, 2020
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#2
I want to learn openings but I feel like it would be a waste of time considering I am only rated 758 in rapid (which is what I always play). I'm assuming nobody would follow along and just play the same moves they always do, resulting in me wasting my time while they develop their pieces. What rating should I start caring about using openings enough to learn them?