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Is learning openings that important and how can I create my own opening repertoire

#1
Hello everyone!
Recently, I noticed that my game is kind of stuck at a particular level. My classical rating is about 2100 here on Lichess and my fide rating is around 1500-1600 after the update. I am sometimes able to draw games against 2100-2200 fide rated players (before the update when my rating was about 1300 fide).
When I tell people about my ratings they usually say that I must have a good opening repertoire but seriously speaking I don't have one. So this got me wondering if I am able to reach a level where people think I have an opening repertoire and the fact is I don't have one, then if I actually create an opening repertoire can I improve even further at chess? If I can then how much and how can I?
I just want to know how can I create a good opening repertoire and how can I keep remembering it?

PS: I don't have a coach and work on my own and I don't think it will be a right investment choice for me right now to buy an expensive software like Chessbase.
#2
@chesstricksandtraps

It depends on your style, willingness to take risks and other factors. As an aggressive player, I like to play the b3 systems in the Bird Opening a lot. One of my friends has actually made a study on it and that's what inspired me to start playing it. But I don't know anything about your style. An opening that works well for one player is often not a good opening for another.

Are you a more aggressive or positional player? Are you willing to take risks out of the opening? You would need to answer those questions before someone else could recommend you some openings to put in your repertoire.

But that is not fully true. Playing openings that are not in your style might help you improve even more.

Actually, I've heard this story of a Grandmaster once. He only played aggressive 1.e4 openings but then realised his positional play definitely needed some improvement. He switched to 1.d4 for a year and then returned to 1.e4 with more positional skills than ever before.

So being able to play 1.e4 just as easily as 1.d4/c4 or vice versa is an important skill that will also help a lot in the middlegame. Thus I would recommend:

White: Alternating between Italian game, London System, and English opening

Black against e4: Alternating between sharp French lines and Russian Defense

Black against d4: Old Benoni, alternating between the normal lines and the Benkö Gambit.

Those are just my recommendations for a varied repertoire. You can of course choose other openings but remember to alternate between both aggressive and positional openings.
#3
@Jisu101

I really appreciate the work that you put in to answer my post and I learnt a lot from your answer. But my original question still remains unanswered that is "How can I create a good opening repertoire and how can I keep remembering it?"

PS: I also would love to know about any helpful chess opening resources available online at my level of chess (or maybe even above my level).
#4
"... For beginning players, [the book, Discovering Chess Openings by GM Emms,] will offer an opportunity to start out on the right foot and really get a feel for what is happening on the board. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2006)
web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
"... Once you identify an opening you really like and wish to learn in more depth, then should you pick up a book on a particular opening or variation. Start with ones that explain the opening variations and are not just meant for advanced players. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2001)
web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf
"... For inexperienced players, I think the model that bases opening discussions on more or less complete games that are fully annotated, though with a main focus on the opening and early middlegame, is the ideal. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2010)
"... As [First Steps: 1 e4 e5 is] a First Steps book, I’ve tried to avoid encyclopaedic coverage. In any case, you certainly don’t need to remember every single variation and all the notes before playing the opening. Take in the first few moves and the key ideas, and then try it out in your games! ..." - GM John Emms (2018)
www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7790.pdf
"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf
"... I am not a big fan of weaker players memorizing lots of opening lines they will never play. However, it is quite a different issue to spend a small amount of time learning how to play your openings a little better each time they occur. A long journey begins with a single step. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2005)
web.archive.org/web/20140627023809/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman50.pdf
"... the average player only needs to know a limited amount about the openings he plays. Providing he understands the main aims of the opening, a few typical plans and a handful of basic variations, that is enough. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
It is a pretty daunting project to undertake to study, for example, the Ruy Lopez. Right off, you face the prospect of potentially encountering 3...a6, 3...Nf6, 3...f5, 3...Bc5, 3...d6, 3...Nge7, 3...g6, and 3...Nd4. Perhaps it is best to accept that you will inevitably encounter moves without preparation and be content to gradually expand your knowledge over time. It is perhaps not the end of the world if you play a game where you react to 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 d6 with 4 O-O and only later discover: "4 d4 is the best and most forceful move" - GM Nick de Firmian (2007)
#5
My advice:
Find a few openings that you like, one as white, one against e4 and one against d4.
Liking the positions is very important, not what others say, not what grandmasters play.

I tried Chess Openings Wizard. A good tool for building, drilling and always updating my repertoire. It works for me. Find it on www.bookup.com/And use some software. On lichess you can build your repertoire in a ciomparable way, but then it is not on your own computer.
#7
At your rating an opening repertoire is a waste of time. Better learn the strategical ideas of the openings you play!
#10
@mrbasso
In OTB tournaments, I either win/draw a higher rated player or get messed up in an opening mistake.
That being said, I don't think that it is "a waste of time" to create an opening repertoire at my level, instead I consider it as progress towards improving my chess skills.

PS: No offence intended.

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