user16194: I am new to chess and I am very confused by all the opening choices.  What openings can I adopt for tournament play that require minimal study time?

user12449: I suggest the Stonewall.  The first 10 moves are the same in almost every opening.  The general middle game plans are easy to learn.  Since it is such a closed opening, the chance of you leaving a piece en prise is very low.

user14202: "The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings",
by Reuben Fine might help you.  If you understand the ideas you don't need to memorize a bunch of variations.

user11629: If you are new to chess, you should not be concerned with openings at all. 
Several reasons for this:

As a beginner player you are much more likely to lose a game because you blunder a piece or because of some other simple tactics than because of lack of opening knowledge.
It is essential to have a decent understanding of chess before you start studying openings. This will allow you to learn an opening together with its typical plans (and not just learning moves by heart.) If you do this, you will know how to punish an incorrect move of your opponent and also how to continue the game in the middle game (when you are on your own). Contrary, if you just learn moves by heart you will not know what to do if your opponent plays a move that is not in your memory.
You have not developed a style yet, so would not be sure which opening suites you best.


What should you be doing now?
Focus on tactics, i.e. solve tactics puzzles. First and foremost avoid blundering pieces in one move. When solving tactics puzzles make sure that you always recognize the pattern(s) that are used in the puzzle.
Get a feel for how the pieces move. I am sure you know how they move, but you need to be able to quickly assess a position, seeing what is attacked, where pieces can move, etc, without having to consciously think about each and every move. This is also sometimes called "board vision" and it will improve as you play or train chess.
Learn some basic general principles like "piece activity, king safety, central squares control, ...". Reading/watching annotated/commented games and recognizing these principles in the games of master players will help you a lot. 
Studying basic endgames can be instructive as well.

16194: <p>I am new to chess and I am very confused by all the opening choices.  What openings can I adopt for tournament play that require minimal study time?</p>
 12449: <p>I suggest the Stonewall.  The first 10 moves are the same in almost every opening.  The general middle game plans are easy to learn.  Since it is such a closed opening, the chance of you leaving a piece en prise is very low.</p>
 14202: <p>"The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings",
by Reuben Fine might help you.  If you understand the ideas you don't need to memorize a bunch of variations.</p>
 11629: <p>If you are new to chess, you should <strong>not</strong> be concerned with openings at all. </p>

<p>Several reasons for this:</p>

<ul>
<li>As a beginner player you are much more likely to lose a game because you blunder a piece or because of some other simple tactics than because of lack of opening knowledge.</li>
<li>It is essential to have a decent understanding of chess before you start studying openings. This will allow you to learn an opening together with its typical plans (and not just learning moves by heart.) If you do this, you will know how to punish an incorrect move of your opponent and also how to continue the game in the middle game (when you are on your own). Contrary, if you just learn moves by heart you will not know what to do if your opponent plays a move that is not in your memory.</li>
<li>You have not developed a style yet, so would not be sure which opening suites you best.</li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p>What should you be doing now?</p>

<p>Focus on tactics, i.e. solve tactics puzzles. First and foremost avoid blundering pieces in one move. When solving tactics puzzles make sure that you always recognize the pattern(s) that are used in the puzzle.</p>

<p>Get a feel for how the pieces move. I am sure you know how they move, but you need to be able to quickly assess a position, seeing what is attacked, where pieces can move, etc, without having to consciously think about each and every move. This is also sometimes called "board vision" and it will improve as you play or train chess.</p>

<p>Learn some basic general principles like "piece activity, king safety, central squares control, ...". Reading/watching annotated/commented games and recognizing these principles in the games of master players will help you a lot. </p>

<p>Studying basic endgames can be instructive as well.</p>
