Help me.

Hiya guys. I am (somewhat) new to chess. I only used to play my friends until I found this website, and now I know that I suck. I need help. Please use insertions of a game or positions. I don't yet understand the graphing system of the chess board. Please help. Thank you. (I need to learn an opening, middly, and closing. Please help.)

So then if the first move is to here, then did I move from g5-e5 or g4-e4? It says e4 so what does that mean?

This is from a white point of view correct?

Ok. I am going to post what I would normally do as an opening. Please help me because this doesn't seem to work.....ever.

That position doesn't ALWAYS happen. I recommend getting the premium member, and then going to the Game Explorer. They have lots of openings there.

GM, I don't exactly have money. Let's put it this way; I am not exactly middle class...I can't afford it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_opening

Start here, it's free and you can read some of the theory behind why different openings work well, or don't work well, while you learn them. Also the history of how they developed is interesting (at least to me).

You can't just open the same every time. Your moves have to be based on what your opponent does.

I do normally change it up a little, and after reading a bit about chess on the articles, I see why I was messing up. I was focusing on one piece at a time, and I should be focusing on it as a team. Now the middle. I am at a loss. Please help. I am going to look at a couple articles though. Would you please link me to some really good ones?

for a start, maybe you would want to search on google (or any search engine you are using) the basic rules of the game including notations.. when you've learned notation enough, you're ready for the next step.. that is studying the opening principles (or else you wont survive long enough in the middlegame)..

after you've studied the game's notations (mind you this is a MUST!) maybe this link below wll help you find something useful..

http://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-beyond-the-basics

after that maybe you're ready to look at higher rated player's game..

and lastly. play, play, play and always play.. you can read all the books about chess (and memorize it) but it doesn't compare against practical experience..

good chess gaming folk, cheers!

Post some of your games here so we can see your weaknesses.

Ok I understand that I trapped my king here. That was my main problem I think.

one of the opening principles is to not bring your queen too early.. develop minor pieces first,, minor pieces include knights and bishop.. at the very least you noticed why did you lose..

also try not to obstruct the mobility of your pieces as much as possible..(what i meant is shown in your move Qe6+) if you chose other queen move, you can play e5 next bringing your dark bishop into play..

last, try not to give check without purpose or plan.. in this case(Qe6+), you just help him develop a piece.. so you when you get past your opening development problems, try to learn about the so-called "tempo"..

BTW, in your play after 8... Nb8?? retreating the knight so you could attack the opponents knight which is defended by the e2 bishop anyway, next move could have been mate already if he saw it.. he actually did gave you 2 moves to save your position in that game,.

hope this helps you.. cheers!