Good openings to learn for white.

The scotch game or the evans gambit.

You'll learn a lot whichever you end up choosing.

I think Evans gambit is way to complex, for players under 1400 just stick to italian game, ruy lopez, 4 knights and maybe some d4 openings like Queens gambit.

A lot of people like the Ruy...It's too complicated for me.

@ravetacular: I haven't studied it in detail either but I suggest studying it some.

I have probably been playing longer - but i have not actually systematically studied ANY opening. :-) I play to enjoy chess.

Dont see anyting bad about not studying openings

That really depends on your level. And whether you want to improve or not.

Shy Attack?

OK, but what exactly is it? I've never heard of that one before.

A bit like marmite... I definately wouldn't recommend that sort of "hedgehog" opening to any beginner though. It may as well be a Reversed Hippo type settup. Not bad for an experienced player maybe...

italian

Tactics first.   Openings second.  Most any opening can be transposed into another.  One can't possibly account for the shift in lines unless playing oddball junk.  After the game, analyze the opening as far as you can through 'the book' and see who deviated from the known or proven lines and how quickly.  Then study that opening to the point and remember it.

As far as openings, I do think that it is beneficial to know every opening through the first moves.  You should always at least recognize the opening, even if not knowing the best 'book' response to play.  A set of index cards used as 'flash cards' will allow you to learn most every opening pretty quickly.

Break into King Pawn openings, Queen Pawn Openings, and Flank Openings.  Then sub-divide into 'natural groups'.  Indian Defense Openings, et cetera.  When you've got the main openings down cold, you can add a little complexity to favorite openings, or ones that you see a lot.

For example, in the Ruy Lopez, Black will usually answer with 3. ...a6. However, there is a selection of solid alternatives.  Add just the one move that separates branch of the Ruy Lopez to your flash cards.  Cordel Defense or Classical Defense ...Bc4, Berlin Defense ...Nf6, Bird's Defense ...Nd4,  Cozio Defense ...Nge7, Shliemann Defense ...f5 or Jaenisch Gambit, Old Stienitz Defense ...d6, ...g3 (popular), ...Bb4 (not so popular).

As you get each addition stone cold, swith sides and play from the Black side.  At first you will be completely lost and won't recognize anything or know what to do.   When you''ve got the first opening moves stone cold from both sides of the board, continue to add continuations to key openings a move or two at a time and get them solid.  Then you will reach a point where you can shuffle your cards and play any opening that comes up from either side of the board - at least through the key opening moves.

Next comes just playing every opening and continuation that you know, from memory, and then going through your cards to just make sure that you haven't missed any.

Openings that you get stuck on, set aside and run through a few times a day every other day or so, until get it.   These will usually non-typical sequences, so harder to remeber what the moves are.

Giucco Piano vs. e5 (I still play this, Ruy Lopez is too complex & fine for black unless white really knows what he's doing)

c3 Sicilian vs. Sicilian (this is a fine opening for all levels)

French Advance is a good recommendation, that's what I played originally then switched to exchange now play Nc3

Against all other openings just try to play logically & study tactics.

himself,

For a 1000-1200 player, or anyone for that matter, the Ruy Lopez is definitely a must. It's ultra-solid, elegant, and endlessly useful and relevant. As you progress to 1300, 1400, and 2400, you'll ALWAYS find yourself playing the Ruy Lopez.