what is best opening for white and black?

"... There is no such thing as a 'best opening.' Each player should choose an opening that attracts him. Some players are looking for a gambit as White, others for Black gambits. Many players that are starting out (or have bad memories) want to avoid mainstream systems, others want dynamic openings, and others want calm positional pathways. It’s all about personal taste and personal need.
For example, if you feel you’re poor at tactics you can choose a quiet positional opening (trying to hide from your weakness and just play chess), or seek more dynamic openings that engender lots of tactics and sacrifices (this might lead to more losses but, over time, will improve your tactical skills and make you stronger). ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (January 28, 2016)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/opening-questions-and-a-dream-mate
TINSTAABO

"There is such a thing as a, 'best opening.' In Chess---like 99.9% of games---there is a META. Over time, what the best openings are changes; Chess is an evolving game.

Each player should choose an opening that fulfills their needs: Some players are looking for the best openings; some are looking for the ones that they enjoy the most; some are looking for openings that allow them good competitive chances while also suiting their preference(s); and some are looking for shortcu--- I mean gambits.

Many players who are starting out---or have bad memories---are advised to avoid gimmicky routes; instead, pick competitively strong openings that you like and stick to them. They do not need to be top-tier---the Benoni and Vienna are still solid choices---but they should be future-proofed depending on the players' goals and form(s) of enjoyment. Competitive chess is all about objectivity and improving ones bad memory, rather than running away from it.

For example, if you feel that you are poor at tactics, then you can study tactics to improve at them and mitigate your weaknesses. At first, this may lead to frustration, but over time, one will realize that working towards undermining their weaknesses is a better approach than doing shenanigans to try avoiding them."

~ Shadow1414 (August 22, 2026).

TISATAABO.

Uhh really whatever fits your style and works best for you is a good option. I personally try to stay away from mainlines as I can think of plans on the spot while most of my opponents can't. Definitely would recommend the scandinavian for black and kings gambit for white.

@GeneralChessKing

You stated "Sicilian dragon best for black", as if it was a fact, then now you try to backtrack and say it was an opinion?

@shadow1414

Can the same be said for elite-GM level play?

(@)IamNOTamod: Which statement(s) are you referring to?

@The_Dragon_Of_Harmia said ^

what is it?

my favourite openng is to lose the game

@GeneralChessKing

I used to play the Sicilian Dragon....I 'd like to learn the Accelerated Dragon, as the Dragon is vulnerable to the Yugoslav Attack. I say vulnerable, because the Yugoslav Attack CAN be good against it. I haven't figured out a way to BEAT the Accelerated Dragon. I am sure I could draw against it, if I knew how. I have heard good things about the Maroczy Bind. I have heard that it is a good idea to play the Closed Sicilian if you don't want to learn a lot of theory.

I still have a book called Modern Chess Openings, 15th edition. It isn't perfect, but it is a useful reference at times. I try to keep up with improvements in various openings. I look at videos on YouTube, etc. I try to find some good books on different openings, but I don't buy very many of them anymore...

@shadow1414

"[...]someone might prefer inferior ones, or think that objectively worse ones will give them an advantage in preparation[...]"

'Best' is hard to estimate since there are many human factors.

White: It's a matter of opinion, but largely it's e4 and the Queen's Gambit, aka d4 + c4.

Black: Sicilian Defense.
(There is no black 'opening' as far as I know, so I assume you meant a defense).

The more popular an opening is, the more sidelines it tends to have, so choosing a middle-ground - not the best opening/defense, which also has fewer sidelines- is preferred.