Good question. I have addressed some parts of this in previous columns, so check'em out-- there is good information there. For the most part, your choice of opening will depend on what kinds of positions you feel comfortable with. Active, tactical play will arise from certain variations and more positional maneuvering is the hallmark of others. This is a persoanl choice. My recommendation of how to study them is to look at one of the many excellent opening databases on the internet, or pick up a copy of the latest Informant, or New In Chess, which categorizes openings by variation. Then play through the variations, trying to predict the next moves. It is much more important to know the concepts behind the various openings than it is to simply memorize moves by rote.

As for your question concerning color, yes, whether you are black or white determines your immediate goals more than anything else. White will try to make the advantage of the first move count while Black's job is first to equalize or blunt this advantage. One way is to do this directly (as in the Petroff Defence: 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6), but can lead to static and drawish positions. The far more popular way in modern chess is to create unbalanced positions, making certain concessions (such as doubled pawns) in exchange for some other element (like open lines for your pieces). Also, the type of event is important: regardless of color, it is generally accepted that you must play a riskier opening reportoire in a Swiss System Tournament than a one-on-one match, where the strategy is to win as white and draw as black (similar to the concept of having the serve in tennis). Hope this helps!

Yes and no. Playing NOTHING but Blitz is bound to make your game a bit superficial. This only makes sense, as the less time you have, the less deeply you are looking into the position. However, If you mix it up a bit, playing some standard, and some blitz, then blitz can be beneficial by allowing you to gain a "feel" for certain opening systems in less time. Another thing that is a direct result of having less time is that you are more apt to make moves based on quick and general evaluations of a position than concrete analysis. This is helpful because you create a quick eye for how a game might develop. If you can develop this quality by playing blitz games and combine it with accurate analysis while playing standard, then I think you have helped your game. If you play nothing but blitz however, you will not see deeply in positions and your chess overall will not develop to its potential.

Chess is a game where focus is maybe the most important factor. Achieving a strong, even won position is only half the battle. Try and catch yourself if you feel yourself relaxing, or mentally chalking up the game in your mind. This is the point where your opponent will be digging in, so don't relax! When you are fishing, it's not over when the fish bites the hook....indeed, much of the work of "reeling him in" has just begun! Don't Relax!