Looking to improve but dont know where to start

Let me start off by saying that I absolutly love playing chess. I say this because I think its crucial for someone to enjoy what they do in order to become good at it. Now, I am currently sitting around 750 - 780 Elo Rating. I have the diamond membership and practice tactics while also working through the chess book bobby fischer teaches chess. While I feel tactics have drastically improved my performance I feel like I have come to a stop (went from 400 - 780) as I am struggling with knowing what to do just after the opening phase. It becomes very unclear as to what a good move is and when watching others play I dont understand there moves. It appears to me that there moves are random and have no meaning when infact they do I just dont understand them. I am looking for a resource to help me understand the structure of the game as I feel tactics only supplement what you learn elsewhere. I can solve puzzles given enough time much like anyone else but I struggle the most with knowing what I should be focusing on in the first place. Thanks Chess.com Community!

The usual story, with the usual answer.

All your playing is bullet. blitz, and rapid.  How are you expecting to learn, and implement what you're learning into your games when you're moving fast?

Play slow time controls.

Opening Principles:

1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5
2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key
3. Castle
4. Connect your rooks

Tactics...tactics...tactics...

The objective of development is about improving the value of your pieces by increasing the importance of their roles. Well-developed pieces have more fire-power than undeveloped pieces and they do more in helping you gain control.

Now we will look at 5 practical things you can do to help you achieve your development objective.

They are:

1. Give priority to your least active pieces.

• Which piece needs to be developed (which piece is the least active)
• Where should it go (where can its role be maximized)

2. Exchange your least active pieces for your opponent’s active pieces.
3. Restrict the development of your opponent’s pieces.
4. Neutralize your opponent’s best piece.
5. Secure strong squares for your pieces.

 

Don’t help your opponent develop.

There are 2 common mistakes whereby you will simply be helping your opponent to develop:

1. Making a weak threat that can easily be blocked
2. Making an exchange that helps your opponent to develop a piece

 

Pre Move Checklist:

1. Make sure all your pieces are safe.
2. Look for forcing moves: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) as this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"

 

 

I appreciate the time you took answering this question as it really helps. I will start to play longer matches and just slow down to take the time to think.

Conventional wisdom is to emphasize tactical training

Oh Wow! that short list is so awesome! long story short explained. 

ima beginner too. And it will help me lot!