Should Beginners Study Openings?

Much of the debate about beginners and studying openings is presented as a false dilemma; it is not an either /or question. There is no reason why a beginner cannot both study openings and tactics. Presenting the question of opening study could just as well be rephrased as "I'm a beginner, should I study tactics or endgame technique?". As others have stated you need a limit opening background for white and black, then you stick with these until you are well past the beginner stage. The whole point of an opening, in general terms is to give you a good middlegame. I absolutely do not believe those who claim you don't need opening knowledge until at least A class; that's just blatantly disingenuous; that's like claiming you don't need endgame technique/knowledge until you are at least 1800.

Let's put this erroneous idea about not beginners not studying ( call it learning if you wish) to bed, you need an opening for white and several defenses for black ,but you learn them as you go, by reviewing your games. In the mean time you put the majority of your time into study material appropriate for your chess level ---tactics, endgames, game review, and chess thought process ....because this is the back-bone of chess. Players advise against opening study for beginners because they don't want to encourage new players to get an openings book and devote time to memorizing lines, because its just a waste of time. Likewise studying any material that is above beginner level, including tactics, is an utter waste of time. I don't believe beginners should waste time studying strategy either, weak squares, color complexes, etc....in chess, a strong tactician but a weak strategist will defeat a strong strategist but weak tactician nearly 100% of the time.

The question is time and efficiency.