:) can a strong chess opening...

...checkmate your opponent? Which one is best to use...?

p.s. thanks for your answers/POSTS ;D

lol. I guess you could try the patzer's opening if you're opponent isn't really a great chess player.. otherwise, maybe the Danish gambit or Smith Morra gambit are worth a try.

in short, yes.

in practical terms, no an opening can't checkmate your opponent (unless your opponent is a moron).

as to which opening is best - depends on what style you prefer to play. do you like open or closed games? tactical or positional games? attacking or defensive games? answer those questions first and you'll be able to narrow down a good opening.

that being said, if you're a beginner, you should just play 1. e4 for now.

Unless one side makes massive mistakes games are not won or lost in the opening.  The most common advice for improving players is to play e4 and to probably spend more time working on tactics than openings.

Depends on who you wan't to play against. Family, kids down the street ... sure ... there are tons of cheapo opening systems (Qh5 + Bc4 + Whammo!) that kids who start out often play for quick victories.

If you want to actually play people who take chess a little more seriously, you will realize that the opening is JUST a way to get to a playable middlegame with alteast an equal position.   There are no magic bullet openings :)

Good insight into the purpose of the opening!

@dmills3544: Thanks, took a few coaches and a lot of yelling from stronger players to exorcize my "obsess over openings" demons a year ago :)

There are regular openings where one mistake can lead to a quick mate, eg, in the Budapest:

Why is the Kieninger Trap so famous, it is so damned obvious.