What am I missing?

Because I saw Carl Sagain in your avatar, I will reply.  : P

Fastest way in my opinion is to learn the fundamentals,  powerful basics like,  how important time is during the openning and how important time is on very open and tactical games.  Time in this context is developing of chess pieces and not time relating to chess clock.  Fundamentals of Capablanca (a classic book)  is one of my fave when it comes to fundamentals.  Fundamentals like, is a Knight more powerful than a Rook (the Rook better captures the N at the center because there are no open files and the N is well placed at center),  there are so many positions where a minor piece is stronger than a Rook or a Queen.  Or,  can I draw against a Bishop + a (or h) pawn?  The answer is yes if the bishop is on oppoiste color of the queening square. Is is better to put my pawns on the same square as my remaining bishop? No that will hamper the activity/mobility of your Bishop.  There are around 30 or 40 fundamentals which can improve your play quickly.

scrub*