which opening is easy for beginners to learn?
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Jul 24, 2021
0
#42
Certainly there are. But knowing 10 moves of the Queens Gambit is not going to transfer to positions like the Ruy Lopez. Opening principles are general, Opening theory is specific or more specific but based off of Opening principles to a reasonable extent. If you don’t know Opening principles well you’re stuck with specific knowledge that will not transfer to all positions you encounter. Opening principles will, therefore is much more useful and applicable to beginners who’ll at times face the most crazy positions no Opening theory will cover because it’s considered so bad. But you have to understand why those moves are bad to properly take advantage of them, and avoid doing them yourself.
BlackKaweah wrote:
PerpetuallyPinned wrote:
BlackKaweah wrote:
Get a copy of Richard Reti’s “Masters of the Chessboard.” Reti goes through many openings stressing not knowledge of variations, but the principles behind the openings. Once you learn those principles you need not fear anything.
Once you become a titled player you can start memorizing openings.
Once you become a titled player you can start memorizing openings.
a title?
What?
When you get really good they start calling you things: Expert, Master, Senior Master, FIDE Master, International Master, Grandmaster.
for a price
You don't need a title to learn to play openings. But, I guess anything is better than beginner because until you lose that title everyone dooms you to principles and looks down their nose at "your level". But then again, how could anyone ever get beyond that point? Ask a question to help you understand something and "you don't need to know the answer yet...at your level". Why can't someone just answer with something simple, like King Pawn openings...maybe?
Jul 24, 2021
0
#44
I did give an answer to the question with suggestions of openings in my initial post. But, glad you understand the points made. Have a great chess adventure!
4 knights 
I disagree with the advice to not learn openings as a beginner.
If they were good at "principles" they wouldn't be a beginner.
Rather, I recommend learning only a few openings, and only the initial lines. If you're going to make a ton of mistakes, you might as well start off with a decent position.
The point of learning the Opening principles is that they will guide you in most positions you face in the opening and help you avoid bad opening moves regardless if you know the opening being played or not. Learning 10 moves of Opening theory is rarely going to be as helpful as learning opening principles because the Opening theory only gives you guidance on that one opening and any deviation (which happens in most games) from the known theory leaves the beginner with no idea what to do from there- even if they are presently sitting in a good/great position. We see this happen all the time in beginner games.
The other reason to avoid Opening theory for beginners is they tend to begin placing far to much emphasis on learning Opening theory and worse begin to hop from one opening to another, wasting hours of time in the process, trying to find the opening(s) that "are right for them". Here's the deal- beginners have no idea what openings will be right for them because they have little experience with chess in general and could easily find out they like or are good at certain structures later in their chess journey than they initially thought.
Opening principles help beginners understand the right objectives and process of developing and are a far better guide when they arrive into new positions they have not faced before. It's the fundamental basis for learning all Opening theory, unless you plan to just memorize reams of various lines, you have to understand the point of moves and why you're making them, which is what Opening principles help explain in a general way.
There is a general hierarchy of chess knowledge that players should follow for a proper and systematic learning process and Opening theory is not the priority initially. It's learning fundamental aspects of the game, basic endgames, opening principles, basic tactical themes and learning a coherent thought process to evaluate positions and determine candidate moves and ultimately your next move. If you're spending hours of learning Opening theory when you still systematically hang pieces or miss hanging pieces and basic 1-2 move combinations, you're spending your time on the wrong areas in chess and you'll see minimal progress.
There's a reason why something is harped on all the time to beginners- because it's a universal truth known to any experienced player out there.
Does all of this mean there are no openings based on and supported by opening principles?