As for me I started with openings, which I think was useful as it let me "get into a game" with some strong players which is always a pleasing thing in chess. Now that i've reached a level of competancy in opening play I don't think there's any point in studying them any more until i've studied a lot of tactical middle and end game play, at the moment i'm reading "best lessons of a chess coach" by weeramantry which i'm finding great as well as trying to get through a few books of problems. I feel like focussing on #'s 2 & 3 above are improving my game reasonably quickly.
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