How can I improve my chess game?

What do you expect cawds149 to do? Resign on the first move? No matter who or what a beginner plays, a lot of losing is likely. It can still be an educational experience.

"How to Reassess Your Chess, 4th Edition was designed for players in the 1400 to 2100 range." - IM Jeremy Silman (2010)

At 11-1200, it might be better to try Amateur's Mind by Jeremy Silman.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094419/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ammind.pdf
https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/chess/amateurs-mind-the-2nd-edition/

My bad. HTRYC was the book I used after I stopped going to a chess class, where the lessons were taught out of The Amateur's Mind.

What i expect him to do is to understand that only a week of trying to improve will get you nowhere. Certainly not beat a computer (even though it's only rated 500). Not without the slightest understanding of opening principles. I never expected to beat my Mephisto chess trainer after only a week. There's nothing wrong with him asking for advice on how to improve, but there is something wrong with his expectations.

He wasn't expecting anything. He was just trying to give us an idea of his progress.

Is there a reason to believe that cawds149 does not understand?

Did cawds149 say something about expectations?

At this point in time I can barely beat a computer player with an ELO of 500.

So how is this not expecting anything?

Well, for one thing, do you see the word, "expect", or anything linguistically equivalent in that sentence?

I have no idea. 

However, the quote literally says, "At this point in time I can barely beat a computer player with and ELO of 500." He is giving us an idea of his progress so far.

This discussion is going nowhere. I'm out.

Finally.

Yes

?

??

what was the "yes" for

I don't know

*Realizes I just spent hours arguing over something stupid and irrelevant*

THE TROLL HAS WON.

Yes

hats off to you, master troll