Depends on your play style:
1. d4
Queen's Gambit
Pros:
- Leads to more positional play
- Breaks open the center
- Relatively quick development
Cons
- Opponent might play different variation
- LOTS of theory
Catalan
Pros:
- Positional play
- Chances for both sides (positional-wise)
- Bishop pair
- Slow game (Unsure if it's a pro or con)
Con:
- LOTS of theory
- Knowledge needed before playing it
- Hard to acquire position in lower elo
- Difficult to manage
1. e4
Scotch Game
Pros:
- Quick development and castling
- Opens the center
- Gambits & sacrifices can be played
- Solid position/opening
- Easy to learn
Cons:
- Gets stale fast
- Opponent might convert to a different opening
Spanish Game (Ruy Lopez)
Pros:
- Aggressive opening
- Immediately castling on kingside
- Quick development
Cons:
- Has extensive theory & variations
- Hard to learn
- "Drawable" variations if played perfectly (Berlin Variation 3. Nf6)
Italian Game
Pros:
- Quick development
- Immediate kingside castling
- Aggressive variations OR solid variations (depends on you and your opponent moves)
- Sacrifice tactics (sometimes)
Cons:
- Some variation requires deep theory knowledge
- Usually stale quick
Hi I am looking to study a chess opening and learn it in depth but there are sooo many, which do I pick?