the EASIEST opening that requires almost no study?

What is the EASIEST opening that requires almost no study?

I will share my idea: simply fiancetto the bishop.

https://youtu.be/W0gIU1JR4Ug?si=lH6-pLiSiamBBOx4

This is a great idea for players under 1400 on here, although at higher levels  you obviously need to know more than that.

What do you recommend for beginners and casual players?

What do you recommend for higher levels, like 1800 or 2000 or 2200?

There is no opening that requires little to no study. Only openings that have fewer variations to deal with.

For example, 1.b4 requires knowing far fewer variations than 1.e4, but you still have to know 1...a5, 1...c6, 1...d5 with 2...e6, 1...d5 and the Bishop comes out, 1...e5 with 2...f6, 2...d6, and 2...Bxb4, and then Kings Indian and Dutch setups.

Granted, far less than the Dragon, Najdorf, Classical, Scheveningen, Taimanov, Sveshnikov, Kalashnikov, Four Knights Sicilian, Pin Variation, Nimzowitsch, O'Kelly, Ruy Lopez, Petroff, Philidor, Latvian Gambit, Elephant Gambit, French, Caro-Kann, Pirc, Modern, Scandinavian, Alekhine, Owen's, St George, Borg, etc.

But you still need to know theory, and really ideas from other openings. The Sokolsky, 1.b4, only has 1 real independent line, the Exchange Variation (1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5). The rest have massive similarities to other openings. You get a lot of English Opening type setups, a lot of Slav and Queens Gambit type setups, a lot of Kings Indian type setups, and even the reversed French in the 2...f6 line (1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.b5 d5 4.e3 Be6 5.d4 e4 with a reversed Advance French with ...f6 committed, weakening the diagonal after White is able to get in c4, and he will likely have to move it again to f5, gaining White a second tempo yo go along with the one he gained for going first.)

This is all far less work than that of 1.e4, but you still are not getting away with "little to no study".

Yeah, I do agree with you if we are taking about more serious chess play.

The opening in the video is intended for beginner and casual players who dont have the time or inclination to create a repertoire. They wont even get above 1400 (that's online EL0), but I still think it is useful for those casual players.

There is the conundrum.

People think system openings cut down the study time.

Does it?

IMO it's just deferring when you have to be "booked up" on the position?

Yep, London is solid. I also like like the The Colle-Zukertort System

I play against the London System and I am never worried by it. It is "safe" so I guess it means players at lower levels have less chance of getting beat quickly!

I actually think of all the "systems", Colle Zuckertort is the best because it has some sneaky attacking ideas. But it does require a bit more study

I would argue that 1. e3/d3 as a first move forces you to learn the least amount of theory–because there simply isn't any until you transpose into a more aggressive opening–while remaining theoretically sound. Also, unlike the g3/b3 systems there isn't any easy counterplay by trying to preemptively trade off the long diagonal bishops or blunt the long diagonal or seize the whole center or begin aggressive maneuvering with the tempo wasted from developing in such a manner.

If you play e3 and your opponent plays e5, you can play Nc3, d4, Nf3, Bc4, b3, c4, or d3 and there really isn't an objectively correct way to counter it. If they play d5, you have the same options available to you barring Bc4.

The Colle-Zuckertort system or the London system are both systems that can be played like that. There's also a variation called the Colle-Koltanowski system but it's not considered as good as the Colle-Zuckertort and if people just say the Colle they're referring to the Colle-Zuckertort.

For years I somehow got the impression that these were just systems where you would get your position and it was basically fend for yourself. Absolutely not - the most important thing is knowing the attacking ideas after getting into the systems, like your system but more elaborate. And there are entire online groups I believe devoted to such systems, how crazy or not those people are is a matter of debate however.

Your system is actually used sometimes, sometimes called the Barcza System and even some top grandmasters have suggested it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcza_System

A final option is the Stonewall Attack. This is really a bit shady, but still might work for a while until around 2000.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Attack

One merit about the Stonewall is that you can also play it as black, at least against d5 where the Dutch Stonewall is actually a mainline theory.

I would be a lot more concerned for black overall. The Pirc/King's Indian is a very popular defence for black so white will be using to seeing it. A defender without basic knowledge on it will likely get steamrolled against good players. Maybe some basic Caro theory would do better since the Caro is very non-committal, and Stonewall against d5.

you are right!

And e4/e5 is just so much fun as well

Hippo opening. 0 theory