Black's first move/Defending Principles?

As an amature, I have been told to disregard studying openings lines for now, and adhere to the basic opening principles. 

I'd like to bring a couple topics to the table in regards to this.

TOPIC A: BLACK's FIRST MOVE

At chess.com you have about 10 seconds or so to make your first move. This is no problem when playing white, as There is no move white can make on move 1 that causes an instant real disadvantage that black can take advantage of. White can lose tempo with a bad first move, but that means that he is now equal with black, not at a disadvantage. 

Black however, can badly hurt himself with a bad first move. So my strategy has been to come up with pat responses, or things that I know are safe do:
1.e4, e5 

1.d4, d5

1.Any knight move, play the opposite pawn to the center.

 And really that is what I see the most by far, as they are the most standard openings. However, sometimes white will play b2, g2, or b4. I imagine a pawn to the center is correct, but I think it matters which, and I haven't had figured out which pawn to play against these. Maybe you can play either pawn out, but it's going to dictate your next 2 or 3 moves that have to follow?

Chess.com cuts the game off if you don't reply quickly on move 1. Playing black, and faced with an offbeat opening I'd like to plan the board a bit, but I don't have time. So what are some pat responses I can use to respond to these?

TOPIC B: Defending Principles?

According to "51 chess openings for beginners" by Bruce Alberston. These are the opening principles to adhere to:

1. The Center

2. Development

3. King Safety

4. Develop pawns, then knights, then bishops, castle, move queen to connect rooks, move rooks to middle or open files.

5. Do not move the same piece twice.

This works fine and dandy for white.

However, black has to do everything in response to white, and white can force black to develop in really goofy ways sometimes. Ways that break these opening fundamentals.

There are openings white can play for example that force black to bring his queen out early.

There is a variation of two nights game where black has to move a knight twice, and additionally has to move that knight to the edge of the board (also a fundamental DO NOT) in order to defend the fried liver attack.

The point being, that if white plays fundamentally, then black can also play fundamentally, but sometimes white is a goober. When white is a goober, it sometimes forces black to do something gooberish. So I feel there ought to be opening principles for white, and defending principles for black. Rather than just opening principles. What might they be?

TL;DR:

1. How should black reply to 1.  b2, g2, or b4?

2. Do white and black have seperate opening principles to adhere to? If they do what are the diferences for black?

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, just play from there.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 now play 2..e6 or 2..dxc4 and play chess.

Against other options just develop pieces, take a bit of the centre and do not attack prematurely.


Black and White do have slightly different opening principles to adhere to.
White has an extra move and therefor can play slightly more aggressively, and blacks options in many lines can be somewhat limited, to avoid disaster.

For example:
1.e4 e5 2.f4 isnt such a bad move, though I do not recommend it.
1.e4 e5 2.nf3 f5 is a horrible move.

Chess is a very complicated and very simple game. Thus while fundamentals are well, fundamental....when they goobs start taking over, a player can only rely on the very principles that make up chess. If you know and follow these principles, the theory of the game (such as you stated above) then odd openings will dictate themselves.

I have met people who drop a piece right next to my King just to get it to move closer to the center. But after very basic moves not only am I up a piece, but my position, while slightly unstable, is far better than anything they could come up with for at least two to three turns which gives me a heavy hand in the center and in development.

1. How should black reply to 1.  b2, g2, or b4?
If they want to place their Bishops on the long diagonal let them. Follow basic theory and hit the middle of the board. Later on in the game, especially if you play right, those Bishops will be forced to leave those Squares and you could even coax them away and get a Rook out of it. Either way, it leaves the side they left weakened.

2. Do white and black have seperate opening principles to adhere to? If they do what are the diferences for black?
Opening principles are the same. Black is always slightly behind in development and so in the beginning you must react and base your strategies off of that, at least at these levels. However, control of the center, Knights first if possible and, generally speaking, castling as soon as you can until you get a better handle on opening theory is among the most accepted ways of handling situations.

In short, if you are Black then your major idea is to stop your opponents idea to gain initiative. This is part of the reason why you see so many lower level players and a few high level games opening up a Bishop to pin a Knight to either the King or Queen. In higher level games, they are not looking to take the Knight (usually) but are rather looking to provoke a move that doesn't necessarily help their opponent. So take the time to figure out your opponent's idea and either stop his idea before he can implement it, or stop it as it is happening.

At least this is how I play as Black.

It's not a gripe. It's just a problem that is kinda unique to how chess.com functions. I have no problem with it.

Having a basic game plan as black is a good timesaver.I refer youtube video (search "modern defense").

Buy yourself a black repetoire book.  And save yourself thousands upon thousands of useless keystrokes.

Andy Soltis has a book from many years ago, A Black Defense for the Rest of Your Chess Career.  It suggests you play a Caro-Kann / Slav system against everything white throws at you.

And there are many, many, other repetorie books available.

So find one you like, buy it, and get to work.  Very Simple.