best opening for new player?

 Which opening is considered to be the best opening for someone new to the game? I would like to learn more in all areas but unsure of where to start. I know basics. Any other advice on which area i should really concentrate on would be helpful. endgame study is soooooo confusing.  cheers.

the italian and four knights seem to be the best bet. i think queen's gambit is a little more advanced for beginners...until they hone in their opening principles.

i played the italian and four knights for a solid year before i moved on.

Most coaches would recommend 1.e4 and the Open Games. One must work on handling tactical situations first. I agree. However, this advice was much more endurable 150 years ago when nearly everyone responded to 1.e4 with 1. ... e5, eagerly inviting an open game, rich with tactical opportunities.

While this response (1. ... e5) is favored among most beginners as well, one will certainly see her/his share of 1. ... c5, 1. ... e6, 1. ... c6, 1. ... d5, and 1. ... Nf6 (and others) - some of which are less open in character.

But, who cares? You get a chess game and you make sure that all the moves you make are either safe (i.e., won't subject the piece moved to attack) or safe enough (i.e., will result in material equity or better if the piece is taken).

I once saw advice a beginner's book that suggested you simply sit with the White pieces and take 10 moves to get a) a pawn or two in the center, b) all your minor pieces developed to good squares without moving any piece twice, c) your king castled, d) your queen developed to the 2nd or 3rd rank, and e) your rooks connected. Then do it again, differently. Then again, differently. The idea being you learn the pieces can be moved to a variety of squares and still yield a decent result.

Remember, beginners obsess about the opening. And intermediate players obsess about the opening. And strong players obsess about the opening. Shrewd players use the opening to get a fun game.

the queen's gambit opens many doors once you progress to that level. strangely enough though, after my first few queen's gambit games i changed over to the king's gambit and played that for a long long time. only recently have i turned back to the queen's gambit and with great success. i've also picked up the italian game recently again, i've been attempting to quell my over aggressive tendencies and focus on positional play

That seems like a very good piece of advice..!