How do I study e4 for a beginner?

Hello chess.com forum members. I had a question about one e4 for beginners. Say I want to study the Italian game. Black can play the French Caro Kann and many others. Do I need to study all of the different openings that black can play against me? Or do I just continue with my Italian game against everything black plays? I know there are universal openings like the London system but I don't want to play like a robot. So I would prefer not to learn systems like that.

Thanks for your input.

As a beginner, you don't need to study specific opening lines. Opening principles will suffice.

Here is all you need to play the opening as a good level as a beginner:

https://www.chess.com/blog/nklristic/surviving-the-opening-first-steps-to-chess-improvement

Good question!

In the long run, you will eventually need to learn how to fight each of the common defenses. The Italian game works well against 1...e5 followed by 2...Nc6, but it does not work against most other defenses:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 (Best time to play the Italian.)

1. e4 e6 2. Bc4?! d5! (Bad time to play the Italian.)

1. e4 d5 2. Nf3?! dxe4! 3. Bc4?? (Horrible time to play the Italian.)

Technically speaking, you might be able to play the first few moves of the Italian game against the other defenses. But the moves probably won’t be very useful. Bc4 is rarely good if Black has played e6 because (1) the pawn blocks the Bishop from the other crucial f7-pawn, and (2) it prepares d7-d5 which takes the center and gains a tempo on the bishop. Some proper ways to respond to the common defenses are

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 (French Defense)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 (Sicilian Defense)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 (Caro Kan Defense)

These are just common lines. They tend to branch into many, many directions, and require study in order to play precisely. The ideas are sometimes very complex, and if you wish to avoid the overwhelming theory for now, I would suggest learning the basic opening principles:

I. Start with a pawn move (or two) towards the center. e4 if you like!
II. Develop your pieces towards the center.
III. Control the center, and watch for pins.
IV. Develop pieces with a threat, or in defense against a threat.
V. Don’t make unnecessary pawn moves. Overextending can be an issue.
VI. Keep your King safe. Castle early!
VII. Don’t move the same piece multiple times unless you really have to.
VIII. Don’t move the queen out early!
IX. Develop minor pieces first. Knights before bishops.
X. Connect the rooks. Move them to open or semi-open files.

By the time you finish these basic steps, you’ll be entering the middle game. Note that these are general guidelines, and there are many cases for exceptions to the principles listed above!

e4 is good for beginner and italian particulary. You learn time, central 'cases.........but yes you must play against french, sicilian, caro.....etc and play diferently because Fc4 is bad against french....

 

 

Some play f4 I won daily against sopsloplich