Yeah, except as white you should probably stick to only 1 1st move, either d4 or e4, don't try to learn both.
Then find a main defense against d4 (Nf6 or d5, I'd suggest) and a main defense against e4 (e5, e6 or c6 probably best, stay away from Sicilians now)
Soon you'l find you have to start branching out for different responses, and you're on yourway to build your own opening tree.
For E4 (white) learn: the ruy lopez, 4 knights, Sotch game, and Giuoco Piano.
These are the basic e4 openings, study the main lines and then variations.
When playing against e4(Black) play sicilian defense: 1.E4 C5
Here is a common game with the sicilian defense (keep in mind there are many variations) :
I was told that beginners should start with learning the e4 and d4 opening and that they should learn a defence when playing black to both of these.
What do more experienced players think of this approach? How should beginners decide on what openings to employ? And as black what defences should they prepare for?
Dear Tekoa,
yes, its better if beginners start with learning e4 or d4 opening but if you want to know more about chess openings do visit www.ichessu.com .
this website offers interesting and essential information about chess openings.
As white, my suggestion is to start with e4.
As black, I support e5 against e4.
And d5 against d4.
Once you learn it, you will know if you like it or not, and then you can try other openings if you would try something else.
What about the Kings Indian Defence against e4? GM Seirawan recommends it.
Seirawan recommends the Pirc against 1.e4 - KID doesn't work against 1.e4
I find that choice illogical - beginners should avoid hypermodern openings and stick to 1.e4 e5 and 1.d4 d5.
This would be an universal approach to play Pirc/KID setup against e4(and d4).
work, lot of simmilar development scenatios and ideas.
here is the link with the recommendation of the certain book:
This would be an universal approach to play Pirc/KID setup against e4(and d4).
work, lot of simmilar development scenatios and ideas.
here is the link with the recommendation of the certain book:
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/opening-for-black-against-most-well-known-white-openings?lc=1
I do not understand exactly what you are saying, but I gather from it you are recommending Pirc and KID?
I still find it illogical to recommend any hypermodern openings for a beginner- they are just not the easiest opening to play.
And your reason that both Pirc and KID have pretty similar positions turns against you, because I believe that beginners should try to get as wide a range of positions as possible.
Ogerboy I understand that you think the KID is unsuitable for beginners but I'm not sure why you say it doesn't work against e4. Could you expand on this?
Ogerboy I understand that you think the KID is unsuitable for beginners but I'm not sure why you say it doesn't work against e4. Could you expand on this?
There is no KID against e4 unless white allows it. After 1.e4 Nf6 you will most likely just get an Alekhine after 2.e5
hi. i would like to share my experience of defences for e4 (KP). i have tried c6- caro-kann- with very little success as it is very defensive in the begining, e6-french defence- with good results as it is counter attacking and c5- yhe sicilian- with the best success rate.
I do not understand exactly what you are saying, but I gather from it you are recommending Pirc and KID?
I still find it illogical to recommend any hypermodern openings for a beginner- they are just not the easiest opening to play.
And your reason that both Pirc and KID have pretty similar positions turns against you, because I believe that beginners should try to get as wide a range of positions as possible.
If you'd spent a bit more time to read the entire thread (post # 7), you would easily see that I recommend other moves.
I just said that Pirc/Kid setup (d6, Nf6, Bg7, 0-0, etc ...) can be used as a universal response to e4 and d4, with d6 as a first move.
And I posted a link to a similar discussion.
I do not know how did you see that I recommend it, I just answered to a question (post # 8)if it can be played, and the answer is yes.
Beginners might be tempted to use the single opening system against wide choice of opponents moves, and if one chooses to do so, then 1. ... d6 is a viable option 
What is a good opening reponse to c4? KID as well?
Since c4 openings most of the time transposes to d4 openings, KID can be used there.
For E4 (white) learn: the ruy lopez, 4 knights, Sotch game, and Giuoco Piano.
These are the basic e4 openings, study the main lines and then variations.
If you play e4 you don't need to learn all 4 of those. You pick ONE and try it, see if you like it. If so, then learn it.
Instead of studying openings, I suggest looking at a wide range of GM games. See what they do and how they use common weapons like pins, indirect defense, attacks on weak points, counterplay etc. If the games are annotated, this helps a lot (and not just with strings of analytical tree search mumbojumbo, but also with words).
If you memorize a bunch of opening stuff now you may just memorize a bunch of openings you really don't like to play. Changing later will be really difficult.
Ogerboy I understand that you think the KID is unsuitable for beginners but I'm not sure why you say it doesn't work against e4. Could you expand on this?
The KID vs 1.d4 and the Pirc vs 1.e4 both concede a lot of space to White and both rely on specific strategies. A Novice needs to learn about general opening principles such as gaining the centre and piece development. The KID & Pirc are defences that contradict the basic principle and so might be deemed unsuitable for Novices.
An opening that stakes a claim in the centre and allows hand-to-hand combat seems more appropriate. Open space allows for more tactical awareness (good practice). KID & Pirc however are a little more focused on particular pre-determined plans.
Ogerboy I understand that you think the KID is unsuitable for beginners but I'm not sure why you say it doesn't work against e4. Could you expand on this?
The KID vs 1.d4 and the Pirc vs 1.e4 both concede a lot of space to White and both rely on specific strategies. A Novice needs to learn about general opening principles such as gaining the centre and piece development. The KID & Pirc are defences that contradict the basic principle and so might be deemed unsuitable for Novices.
An opening that stakes a claim in the centre and allows hand-to-hand combat seems more appropriate. Open space allows for more tactical awareness (good practice). KID & Pirc however are a little more focused on particular pre-determined plans.
Exactly
I was told that beginners should start with learning the e4 and d4 opening and that they should learn a defence when playing black to both of these.
What do more experienced players think of this approach? How should beginners decide on what openings to employ? And as black what defences should they prepare for?