Recommendations to improve and Opinion on my chess 'career'

Hello guys

I wanted to hear some recommendations for me what I can do to improve my elo. I have a rating in tactics of about +- 2650 and a rapid rating of +- 1100. You can look up the games I've played and stats. I started playing i think in Nov. 2022. I mainly play rapid because I like to take my time to think. I also think the best way to improve is to play rapid games so you can really take your time and analyse the position etc. I'm also focussing on doing the tactics correctly instead of spamming them.

So my questions:

What can I do to improve my rapid elo?
Is a rating in tactics rating of +- 2650 good for a +- 1100 rapid player?

Thanks.

Thanks

@1

"I have a rating in tactics of about +- 2650 and a rapid rating of +- 1100." ++ How much time do you spend solving a puzzle? How much time per move do you think in a game? That explains it.

"I mainly play rapid because I like to take my time to think." ++ Good. 15|10 is best for progress.

"the best way to improve is to play rapid games" ++ Yes

"I'm also focussing on doing the tactics correctly instead of spamming them."
++ Yes, but your time per puzzle should be less than your time per move in a game, as in a game nobody tells you there is a tactic, or for which side. If you play 15|10 rapid, then you have 40 seconds per move. Thus you should also solve puzzles in 40 seconds.

"What can I do to improve my rapid elo?"
++ Always check your intended move is no blunder before you play it.

To most of my students, I give this advice (and it's almost all they need):

The biggest reason people struggle in lower-level chess is because of blunders. They make them in almost every game.

A mistake can instantly put you in a bad position, no matter how well you played earlier: if you had great opening knowledge, great positional skills, great endgame skills, whatever; a single mistake can change everything (you lose a piece or get checkmated).

So, how do you avoid blunders? Follow these two simple steps:

1. After your opponent moves, think if it's dangerous. Ask yourself, “What’s his idea?”
2. Before you make your move, think if it's safe. Ask yourself, “What attacking replies can he play?”

If you feel like getting to levels like 1600, 1800, or 2000 in chess is super hard, let's look at it in a different way. Those players you're facing make blunders in nearly every game they play. Beating them isn't so tough if you stop making big mistakes and start using their slip-ups to your advantage.

Again, it does not require you to become a chess nerd or spend all your time on chess. Just doing this one thing can boost your rating by a few hundred points right away.

Lastly, while avoiding blunders is crucial, I also share a few basic principles with my students. These principles help them figure out what to do in each part of the game - the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. Understanding these simple principles is like having a map for your moves. When you use this knowledge along with being careful about blunders, you're not just getting better at defending. You're also learning a well-rounded approach to chess. Keep in mind, chess is not just about not making mistakes; it's about making smart and planned moves to outsmart your opponent.

thank you very much for the adivce!