Which chess openings should a beginner learn?
And how many openings should a beginner look at?
None and zero.
What you should do is google "chess opening principles".
I'm a beginner (< 1yr in chess) and I play Queens Gambit as white and Scandinavian as black. Both are fairly standard on their moves unless you face someone who knows how to disrupt them which is rare at beginner level.
Forget about the openings. Learn how to think during the game. Great book for that is 'Logical Chess'. You have it on youtube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eTB7oHeRgM&list=PLUrgfsyInqNa1S4i8DsGJwzx1Uhn2AqlT
Here are some of the 'easier' (i.e., less 'theory' – documented lines and variations - to learn) King pawn (1.e4) openings for White which are very playable at the amateur, club level. Typically, the 1.e4 games are so-called "Open" or "Semi-Open" games, where lines (files and diagonals) can more readily be opened when the pieces may enjoy more scope and mobility. These game tend to promote play of a more tactical character as opposed to "closed" openings characterized more often than not by blocked centers which tend to result in a more maneuvering, "positional" style of chess early on in the game...
Scotch Game & Gambit
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scotch+game
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_Game
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scotch+gambit
Ponziani Opening
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ponziani+opening
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponziani_Opening
Vienna Game & Gambit
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vienna+game
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Game
Introduction To The Vienna Game & Gambit
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-the-vienna-game-gambit
The Italian Game – more challenging to learn (i.e., more 'theory') than the above, but a very rich and sound opening complex, which can be played for your entire chess career, even at the highest levels. The Evans Gambit tends to produce some interesting and exciting games...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Game
Introduction to The Italian Game & Evans Gambit
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-the-italian-game
Bishop's Opening – this is not an opening per se, but an opening 'gateway', leading to a rich variety of openings (useful for keeping your opponents guessing!) including several of the above, especially the Italian Game...
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bishop%27s+opening
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop%27s_Opening
If you prefer to play 1.d4 as White, then among the 'easiest', yet sound and effective, openings to learn are...
The Stonewall Attack - I consider this to be a precursor to the London System. There are some similarities between the two, with the Stonewall being the easier to learn as there is less theory, while also very playable at the amateur, club level...
The Stonewall Attack...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/stonewall-attack
Introduction to the London System & Jobava London System
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/the-london-system
Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond…
ttps://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
For other helpful, instructive chess resources, be sure to check out my blog...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell
1.e4 e5, 1.c4 c5 and 1.d4 d5 for both colors and learn from there how to develop pieces properly. Later on when you get better that's the time to venture out non-symetrical openings. Good luck ;)
Try out as many openings as you like. You don't know what your style is so it's best to explore different things until you find something that you like.
Don't listen to anyone who tells you that any particular opening is better for beginners. They are generally telling you to play in their style which might not work for you.
As long as you follow good opening principles and work on improving in other aspects of the game as well.
Don't listen to anyone who says openings don't matter.
Openings are one of the most important part of chess improvement it gives you good foundation, and based on how you play in the opening you play the rest of the game.
For beginners stick to classical openings
For white e4, and mainline against everything.
As black e5, again mainline, against d4 QGD or Slav mainline.
Mainlines because they are the most principled approach to the game.
Pick up this challange of diving into the mainlines give it a year, and see results for yourself, chess is a hard game to master don't give up too quickly.
Benifit of mainlines at below 2000 level is they are extremely fun not drawish like at super GM level.
As a side note, keep in mind the general opening principles as they will be helpful when you're out of theory.
Wish you luck.
Funky Yves.
Don't listen to anyone who says openings don't matter.
Openings are one of the most important part of chess improvement it gives you good foundation, and based on how you play in the opening you play the rest of the game.
For beginners stick to classical openings
For white e4, and mainline against everything.
As black e5, again mainline, against d4 QGD or Slav mainline.
Mainlines because they are the most principled approach to the game.
Pick up this challange of diving into the mainlines give it a year, and see results for yourself, chess is a hard game to master don't give up too quickly.
Benifit of mainlines at below 2000 level is they are extremely fun not drawish like at super GM level.
As a side note, keep in mind the general opening principles as they will be helpful when you're out of theory.
Wish you luck.
Funky Yves.
You can add me as friend if you want to know more or discuss something specific about openings
for a 700 rated player studying lines memorizing move orders and understanding the ideas which are geared towards either equality or a small edge wont help a 700 the same way if im polkaing with white i have the initiative. I cant win with that and having a small edge in the openings also doesn't help me when i was 700. learning the fundamentals first i think is more crucial to develop good habits ideas like controlling the center 4 and the ones around them making it16 in total. king safety knight before bishops, making sure your pieces are defender preferably by pawns learning how to develop a plan the 3 candidate moves and finding a pawn break. this isnt theory its fundamental principle.
You're going wrong here there is no need to memorize, key is to understand the mover rather than memorizing and GMs play for small edge, under 2000 level you can get huge edge even winning position out of the opening sometimes you need to invest time in the opening tho.
the problem with theory is thayt you study main line that yoi will never get bc yout 600 rated opponent isnt gunna play the mainline of the open sicilian so when you mermorize this then play it and your opponent does something ele your like ummmm what do i do now?
Yes, but you get an opening edge right? It's your job to now find out what is the best way I could have played opening over it's chess now.
Which chess openings should a beginner learn?
And how many openings should a beginner look at?