How to choose a chess opening? I want to start studying chess but one thing I'm having trouble with is the openings. I don't know what openings to use. Should I learn a bunch, then choose one randomly before a game, or should I choose a couple of openings and get good with those? Is there really a better thing to do or is it mostly based on personal preference?
Take the following factors into account:


roughly how many moves you can memorize (if you can't memorize 5 moves or so, at least avoid stuff like the Ruy Lopez)
style (don't play the King's Gambit if you are a positional player)
your ability to gauge whether an opening fits or doesn't fit any of the above (this is kind of an abstract concept)