Method for learning openings?

My club rating is currently 1500-1600 and I am working on my opening repertoire. Primary the basics of the openings and not too deep variations. I almost have a total database with recommended lines made by a coach.
I consider using about 5 min blitz games focusing on the opening and comparing the moves with my repertoire. I think that this might help me remember the main plans and ideas of each opening (not the move order of the variations!).
The point of using only 5 min is to play as many openings as possible to keep my memory clear. (And having more time for learning tactics etc.)
So my idea is something like:
1. play 4-6 games of 5 mins
2. compare moves with my repertoire database
3. maybe find some relevant games in opening variation played by strong players

Does this approach sound usefull?

I think that instead of playing six blitz games, you should take time to play one 30 min game - although you don't get as many different variations onto the board as in six short games, you have one where you have some time to remember your lines - even those of the same variation that didn't actually occur in that game. Another bonus is that you can play out the position in a decent time control and so see if the resulting position is actually one you feel comfortable with and which you can handle well.

The problem with the blitz games is that you may not remember a line correctly yet, but after having played it repeatedly wrong, it will be much harder to get the correct move order into your head - we learn by repetition, after all.

I guess I repeat what many others would say here when I state that mainly you should study model games in your chosen repertoire so that you can see the plans in action rather than mindlessly memorize move orders.

However, learning some lines cannot be avoided at all, and for that there is a wonderful free tool. Check out the following website: www.chesspositiontrainer.com

Hope this helps a bit...

I believe that it is important to remember opening lines, but it is MORE important to remember the ideas behind the moves. Focusing more on ideas will help you remember what moves to make, and when. This also helps you to feel a little more in control of your own play, and not playing at the mercy of your opponent.  Whenever you get stuck during the opening, you can always ask yourself, "What am I (or was I) trying to do?" keeping in mind the ideas behind the opening that you played. Databases are good, but more often than not databases do not explain ideas. Ideas behind openings are generally gathered from books or video lectures (shot out to Chess.com).

When I was teaching my 5 year old son how to play chess, I stumbled across an excellent exercise to help with all three phases of a chess game. I cleared the board of all pieces, except for one knight. I placed the knight on a random square and randomly pointed to another square on the board asking, "How can I get this knight here?" This helped him (and me) to visualize several moves ahead. As time progressed, I would add 'obstacles' to the board like pawns. Now, he had to figure out how to either work around the obstacles, or remove them. The impact that this cute exercise has had on my game is immense. After awhile, I found myself during a game asking internally, "How can I get this knight on THAT square?" Hope this helps.

Does anyone have any cool simple exercises for bishops and rooks?

Thanks a lot for the answers.

I try to work on the purpose of each opening and not just memorizing the lines.

I just tried the chesspositiontrainer and liked it a lot. It looks helpful to test if I have learned to lines etc.

So I will drop playing blitz to learn openings and then start playing with longer time control.

My mentor once advised that it was not a poor idea to make a study of openings if you understood the reasoning behind the moves. Just pushing the wood around isn't good enough - a deep, or even passing, understanding of why you are doing so is important.

I ideally want to have at least one annotated game in the opening I'm trying to learn, and I go over it. I usually play a computer a few times then, and have it display the book moves, so I get used to playing them. Then I play a few blitz games, a few long games, and just get comfortable.

Download as many games as you can find of your opening, put them in Fritz (or whatever), play through each game at a few seconds per position, and see how many moves you can predict.

Play all the games right through to the end, you'll be surprised how quickly you grasp the plans of the opening, and which piece belongs where.