Answers.Body: <p>I'm going to ignore the "simple" openings and recommend to you good openings for beginners. </p>
  
  <p>It is pretty common for chess instructors to recommend <code>1 e4</code> openings to beginners because they tend to be more dynamic and therefore helps beginners improve in their tactical ability. </p>
  
  <p>My following recommendations are in the spirit of fostering tactical and attacking ability. </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Against <code>1e4 e5</code>, I recommend the <strong>Italian Game</strong> because you will often get the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Knights_Defense,_Fried_Liver_Attack" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>Fried Liver Attack</strong></a> 
  which will help your tactical ability as well as win you many games. </p></li>
  <li><p>Against <code>1e4 c5</code>, you could play the <strong>open sicilian</strong> though it has a lot of theory if you choose to stick to it. I recommend the <strong>Smith Morra Gambit</strong> which may not be completely sound, but it will give you great attacking chances.</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>As Black, you will face <code>1e4</code> or <code>1d4</code> most often. </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p><code>e5</code> has a lot of theory and white can play many things, so I would recommend either the <strong>caro kann or french defense</strong>. </p></li>
  <li><p>Against d4, the <strong>King's Indian Defense or the Benoni</strong>. Those two openings are pretty much the only way for black ensure a dynamic and tactical game against d4. You could try the Dutch defense, but I find it less tactical and difficult for beginners to play with.</p></li>
  </ul>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-08-16T06:57:03.783Z
Answers.Text: I wouldn't recommend a gambit opening straight away - you have to know some basics about how to use your compensation for the pawn or it might slowly evaporate. In my experience, many beginners tend to be on the cautious side at first (focusing on "not losing" rather than "winning") and only develop an attacking style later on (if they do). Otherwise, +1.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Annatar
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-08-15T23:47:07.400Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-08-16T10:25:40.623Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-08-16T10:25:40.623Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: CognisMantis
Answers.Body: <p>There are easy openings, then there are the ones you're going to see.  Your question implies you are a near-beginner. Even so, by now, you have seen:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>The Ruy Lopez. This is probably THE kingside opening to learn. You'll need it on both sides of the board.</p></li>
  <li><p>The Queen's Gambit. This is THE queenside opening. Again, you'll need it on both sides of the board.</p></li>
  <li><p>The Sicilian. Selected by Black in response to e4. You don't have to play it but you better be ready for it.</p></li>
  <li><p>The Fried Liver Attack. You'll see it in blitz. Be ready. As black you'll learn to hate the f7 pawn. He's a weakling.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>That being said, don't try to memorize tons of moves. This is a waste of time. I recommend you get familiar with the first few moves and major variations and learn what the variations are about. Thereafter, stick with good opening practices such as developing pieces and castling. Because as sure as I type this, you're going to see someone play something weird on move 3 and you're going to have to deal with it.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-08-16T01:47:38.517Z
Answers.Text: Why the downvote, I wonder?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-08-15T23:02:58.517Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-08-15T23:02:58.517Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Body: <p>I'm a beginner and I don't know any openings - what are the best openings for beginners?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-11-06T10:45:59.823Z
Comments.Text: I recommend the Four Knights opening. It follows the main opening ideas of piece development ... but then its "boring" symmetry teases you to create imbalance and that's where you start to learn from opponents' reactions.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Chess Maps
Tags: <opening><beginner>
Title: Simple Openings for Beginners?
ThreadText: # Simple Openings for Beginners?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-15)
  
  I'm a beginner and I don't know any openings - what are the best openings for beginners?
  
  **Tags:** opening, beginner
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I recommend the Four Knights opening. It follows the main opening ideas of piece development ... but then its "boring" symmetry teases you to create imbalance and that's where you start to learn from opponents' reactions.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-15. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  I'm going to ignore the "simple" openings and recommend to you good openings for beginners.
  
  It is pretty common for username_1 instructors to recommend `1 e4` openings to beginners because they tend to be more dynamic and therefore helps beginners improve in their tactical ability.
  
  My following recommendations are in the spirit of fostering tactical and attacking ability.
  
  * Against `1e4 e5`, I recommend the **Italian Game** because you will often get the [**Fried Liver Attack**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Knights_Defense,_Fried_Liver_Attack)
    which will help your tactical ability as well as win you many games.
  * Against `1e4 c5`, you could play the **open sicilian** though it has a lot of theory if you choose to stick to it. I recommend the **Smith Morra Gambit** which may not be completely sound, but it will give you great attacking chances.
  
  As Black, you will face `1e4` or `1d4` most often.
  
  * `e5` has a lot of theory and white can play many things, so I would recommend either the **caro kann or french defense**.
  * Against d4, the **King's Indian Defense or the Benoni**. Those two openings are pretty much the only way for black ensure a dynamic and tactical game against d4. You could try the Dutch defense, but I find it less tactical and difficult for beginners to play with.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: I wouldn't recommend a gambit opening straight away - you have to know some basics about how to use your compensation for the pawn or it might slowly evaporate. In my experience, many beginners tend to be on the cautious side at first (focusing on "not losing" rather than "winning") and only develop an attacking style later on (if they do). Otherwise, +1.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2017-08-15. Score: 1
  
  There are easy openings, then there are the ones you're going to see. Your question implies you are a near-beginner. Even so, by now, you have seen:
  
  1. The Ruy Lopez. This is probably THE kingside opening to learn. You'll need it on both sides of the board.
  2. The Queen's Gambit. This is THE queenside opening. Again, you'll need it on both sides of the board.
  3. The Sicilian. Selected by Black in response to e4. You don't have to play it but you better be ready for it.
  4. The Fried Liver Attack. You'll see it in blitz. Be ready. As black you'll learn to hate the f7 pawn. He's a weakling.
  
  That being said, don't try to memorize tons of moves. This is a waste of time. I recommend you get familiar with the first few moves and major variations and learn what the variations are about. Thereafter, stick with good opening practices such as developing pieces and castling. Because as sure as I type this, you're going to see someone play something weird on move 3 and you're going to have to deal with it.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: Why the downvote, I wonder?  
  
  ---
  
  