THINKING PROCESS.

As you can see, making decisions based only on general principles and ideas leads to errors and ultimately loses games. To improve your approach to the game, and your results these are the steps I would like you to take:

1. Do not abandon fundamental principles, but look for a move that's based on a good idea and leads to a specific follow-up in order to achieve a specific goal in the given position (rather than making a move only to fulfill an idea). For example, instead of thinking "I will play Re1 because a rook belongs on an open file," you would approach it as, "Re1, putting the rook on an open file, will enable (moves X, Y, Z) in order to (start a kingside attack / win a pawn / etc.)."
2. Identify specific threats, both for you and for your opponent. Come up with several candidate moves. Then identify candidate responses for your opponent to each of your candidate moves. Look for the best move for both sides. Calculate variations. Practice doing this on every move.
3. To emphasize the point again: Get into the habit of calculating. I'm not even asking you to calculate accurately. That's important, but it's the next step. The first step is to train yourself to calculate, period.

Best of luck, and I hope that following these steps will improve your skill and results.

AFTER OPPONENTS MOVE.

IS IT SAFE.....

NOW U CAN.....

IT ACTUALLY.....

YOU'RE TRYING TO.....

MY TURN.

I CAN NOW.....

CHECKS, CAPTURES, THREATS (FORCING MOVES).....

THREATS ANALYSIS (SHORT & LONG TERM).....

WHERE ARE THE WEAK PIECES (TARGETS).....

WHERE ARE THE WEAK SQUARES.....

WHAT SHALL I DO ABOUT IT.....

LOOK AT A MOVE TO AFFECT SPACE, DEVELOPMENT, QUALITY AFFECTS ON PIECES & MATERIAL. IF I CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT MOVE I'LL SPEND TIME ON THE RIGHT PLAN. I MUST ALWAYS THINK OF AN ATTACKING PLAN TO OPEN UP LINES, EXCHANGE PIECES ETC. TO ACT AS A GUIDE TO COMPOSE THE MAIN PLAN.

MY PLAN IS.....

MY MOVE.

IS IT SAFE.....

NOW U CAN.....

IT ACTUALLY.....

AFTER OPPONENTS MOVE.
IS IT SAFE....The piece moved & others it was guarding.
NOW U CAN....You couldn't before.
IT ACTUALLY....It actually undefends pieces, creates holes and weak squares etc.
YOU'RE TRYING TO....What're you trying to do so i know how long to spend on it.
MY TURN.
I CAN NOW....I couldn't before.
CHECKS, CAPTURES, THREATS (FORCING MOVES)... Calculate this in every Variation before giving up on that Variation.
THREATS ANALYSIS (SHORT & LONG TERM)
WHERE ARE THE WEAK PIECES(TARGETS)
WHERE ARE THE WEAK SQUARES.
WHAT SHALL I DO ABOUT IT?
LOOK AT A MOVE TO AFFECT SPACE, DEVELOPMENT, QUALITY AFFECTS ON PIECES & MATERIAL... If i can't find the right move i'll spend time on the right Plan. I must always think of an attacking Plan to open up lines, exchange pieces etc. to act as a guide to compose the MAIN Plan.
MY PLAN IS....bearing in mind the imbalances in
Lead in development.
King Safety.
Pawn Structure.
Space.
Superior Minor Pieces.
Statics V Dynamics.
Material.
Control of a Hole or Weak Square-Homes for Horses.
Control of a Key File-Roads for Rooks.
Initiative.
MY MOVE.
IS IT SAFE... The piece moved & others it was guarding.
NOW U CAN...You couldn't before.
IT ACTUALLY....It actually undefends pieces, creates holes and weak squares etc.

ALL THE TIME KEEP AN EYE ON
PIECES UNDEFENDED OR BARELY DEFENDED.
PIECES THAT CAN'T MOVE OR BARELY MOVE.
PIECES WITH OPEN LINES.
PIECES WITH MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES.
HIDDEN ATTACKS. (THESE CAN GO BOTH WAYS.)
GEOMETRIC PIECE ARRANGEMENTS.
CONNECTIONS WITH KEY SQUARES.

THE ENEMY MOVED.
REACTING 1ST MY ARMY LOOKS AT
CHECKS, CAPTURES, THREATS....................Calculate this in every Variation before giving up on that Variation.
THREATS ANALYSIS. (SHORT & LONG TERM.)
FORCING MOVES.

IS IT SAFE....................The piece moved & others it was guarding.
NOW U CAN.................You couldn't before.
YOU'RE TRYING TO...What're you trying to do so i know how long to spend on it.
IT ACTUALLY...............It actually undefends pieces, creates holes and weak squares, sets up a hidden attack etc.

REACTING 2ND MY ARMY SAYS
NOW I CAN...................I couldn't before.
WHER ARE THE WEAK PIECES (TARGETS) & WHAT SHALL I DO ABOUT IT.
WHER ARE THE WEAK SQUARES & WHAT SHALL I DO ABOUT IT.
LOOK AT A MOVE TO AFFECT SPACE, DEVELOPMENT, QUALITY AFFECTS ON PIECES & MATERIAL.
If i can't find the right move i'll spend time on the right Plan and can make up the time after because of it. I must think of an attacking Plan to open up lines, exchange pieces etc., to act as a guide to compose the main Plan. I compose a Plan by earing in mind the imbalances in
LEAD IN DEVELOPMENT.
KING SAFETY.
PAWN STRUCTURE.
SPACE.
SUPERIOR MINOR PIECES.
STATICS V DYNAMICS.
MATERIAL.
CONTROL OF A HOLE OR WEAK SQUARE. (HOMES FOR HORSES.)
CONTROL OF A KEY FILE. (ROADS FOR ROOKS.)
INITIATIVE.
SO MY PLAN IS....................

MOVE MY ARMY IN MY HEAD.
THEN LOOK AT ENEMIES
CHECKS, CAPTURES, THREATS....................Calculate this in every Variation before giving up on that Variation.
FORCING MOVES.

IS IT SAFE....................The piece moved & others it was guarding.
NOW U CAN.................You couldn't before.
IT ACTUALLY................It actually undefends pieces, creates holes and weak squares, sets up hidden attacks etc.