How to learn chess better?

I have recently gotten into chess due to not having anything to do, because of coronavirus. I would say that whenever I am focused and concentrating rather then my normal state I am pretty good at chess. I want to get better tho, and I just don't really know how. The lessons that are provided by chess. com do introduce me to new ways of thinking, strategizing, and just generally playing. Yet they do not fully hammer it into my mind for things such as specific moves and more obsecure/complicated theorems. I have seen that there is a coaches tab, but I don't know how that would work. Nor do I know what the coaches are like as I am not really invested into chess celebrities (or normal celebrities) as a matter of fact. Should I get a coach, and if so how would that work? Also any ideas as to how to stay focused and not feel "unconcious" as I sometimes do. I think it's to do with extended periods on the screen, which makes my forehead/eyes hurt. Though it's less when I wear my glasses, (which I used to not) but for somereason it still happens. Which that really worries me as that could possibly have to do with my brain itself. Anyways lets not go into my health on this post of learning chess.

Which chess.com Lessons are you referring to? The old Study plans tucked away in the articles section, or, the new easier study plans? Also what “specific moves” are you talking about that you say aren’t hammered in enough? Did you check out the “drills” to see if that is the type of training you are looking for? If not, could you give an example of what “exact moves” you are talking about? Could you also give examples of what exactly are these obscure/complicated theorems you are talking about? I’m asking these questions because I don’t think anyone knows what you mean so maybe if you want the right kind of help you should be more specific. You never played a single game on chess.com, so that makes it harder for us to assess where you are at. I’m sorry if I am coming off as mean or whatever but I think any reasonable person after reading what you wrote would ask these same questions. The answer is we don’t have answers because you weren’t specific enough. Be more specific.

A coach will be able to tell you what you don’t notice about your game and it’s usually up to you to determine how to subtract those negatives. You could ask your coach if they have any suggestions. Having a coach accelerate progress, and it’s often considered a no brainer to seek out a mentor when you are trying to learn anything. It could subtract years of wasted time. For example I spent the last 17 years without a coach and I am still only about 1500 rating. Had i of gotten a coach sooner I would have most likely improved much further than I have. But I can’t change the past. You can make a change now, avoiding my mistake, and get a coach.

Just search around. You’d probably have to try out more than one coach. My coach is WGM Adriana Nikolova. She has a YouTube and a twitch. You could watch those and make a decision. Or you could focus on other areas of your life. Or maybe you want a free route? Look for that Giraffe NM guy, he makes a good video that I think will get most people to 1700, however, it’s always more helpful to pay for a mentor. You get what you pay for, unless you are being scammed. There is a FM that charges 50 bucks a month. That is another option, perhaps he will post something here soon, and maybe even that Giraffe guy. It’s up to you. Good luck with your chess. Btw, there are a lot of free beginner videos on YouTube. Google John Bartholomew and Agadmater. There are more. You can find out of you look around. You can also google this phrase, “popular chess streamers”. I sometimes watch Kingcrusher. I think his style of play is interesting. Well, again, good luck with your chess!

I'm not necessarily talking about anything specifically when i'm referring to the lessons. It's not too complex and whatnot. It's just that doing the lesson over and over again would be a slow way to learn it, as you do not get to really focus on doing those things in a real game; and when you do you just forget what you recently learned. Though the drills might be able to help me a bit in that regard. I also haven't played any matches as I just want to hone my skills with the computer who is better then any human not genetically designed for playing chess could be, before I deal with people. Either way I can take down a 3 if I don't make random oversights. a 2 very easily, and maybe a 4 but I haven't tried it yet. Thank you for your time tho

I suggest not practicing to play or learn using a computer since they do very accurate moves and you won't see those moves when playing against other people.

Is that so? Even for the lower level computers? Wouldn't that help me? Or would it make me overlook things and they can do the unexpected?

u first have to control the centre

then think of eight to ten moves ahead

Is that even possible?

Three to four at max 

Dear Chessfriend,

My name is Gabor Balazs. I am a Hungarian FM, fighting for the IM title. My top ELO is 2435. I have been playing chess for 21 years. I won the Hungarian Rapid Championship twice (U16 and U18).

I love teaching chess and it is very important for me that both of us enjoy the lessons beside the hard work. I have pupils almost all the levels from beginners to advanced players (1100-2200 ELO).

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Why should you choose me?

- I have a widespread opening repertoire (a lot of openings are analysed by strong Grand Masters).

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My rate is 50 USD/hour.

Please, contact me (balazsgabor1991@gmail.com), if you are interested in working with me, I am looking forward to your message. 

SPECIAL DISCOUNT!!! If you start learning from me in June, I can give you 50% discount from the first 2 lessons!

50 dollars an hour!? I don't know if that's normal or not, but I simply cannot afford that. Maybe that 50% discount you offered, but I could do 10 dollars, which I don't think you'll want. I am not very dedicated to chess so that's kinda outta the way. I'm also not in a very financially prosperous setting if you know what I mean... Thank you for your offer but i'll have to pass up on it for the time being. 

Okay, no problem  If you are still interested in the 50% discount, we can do that, please write me in private and we can discuss it.

I'd say it's more useful for Masters and GMs, because they play with high accuracy so they're somewhat close to a computer. I guess the low level computers are okay, it's just that they're kinda generous with their pieces. 

Chess is about making your pieces (as a whole and not necessarily unit by unit) better than your opponents' pieces. This is achieved by setting up a string of problems that your rival has to solve, and solving the problems he is setting up for you.

This implies that you need to see and understand the problems and solve them with accuracy. The difference in strength between players is related to the difficulty in the problems they're capable of setting up, detecting, and solve. All of this is related to the ability to evaluate the position accurately by predicting the likelihood or certainty of how will it evolve after solving –or not solving– the problems on the board. In a way, it is similar to not checking the emails (maybe an opportunity) when an earthquake (serious problem) is going on, not building a house on top of an active volcano, and so on.

Coaches are supposed to clarify all of this to their students. But in practice, it is not that easy. Some coaches are very good at playing chess but not at explaining chess. Or they shower you with a lot of technical knowledge in a way similar to giving you 4000 puzzle pieces but not the whole picture. At any rate, chemistry matters between the coach and the student. Just consider that Fischer took (American master) Jack Collins with him to the '72 match.

On your loss of focus after some time, it may be related to your physical condition. Your brain needs a huge amount of blood (oxygen, sugar, etc.) when playing chess. If not the case, then you may try eye drops.

That's actually a pretty interesting way of viewing chess. I'd say I have two different views. 1-You have to make sure your units are in the best position possible by looking at every possible movement option to make sure your pieces don't get captures/can capture; i'm pretty sure this is how computers work, not too sure if I phrased it right tho. Doesn't really work too well unless your focused and got your memory running. Then there is mine other way, which is viewing chess as a battlefield. A battlefield with spearmen archers and intrigue, all that good stuff. Obviously that's how it was intended by it's creators, as that's how warfare was. I do like your view point, and I think i'll try seeing it from that way just to try it out. Also I think it's mostly to do with eyesight, and occasionally over/de-hydration. Tho I do occasionally don't eat just because I don't have the urge to. I have been eating a ton recently tho, just so I can increase my weight and muscles. (I'm working out ya see, even been consistent. Can't workout right now tho because I got real bad allergies, and I hate breathing from my mouth.)

I have to wonder which criteria do you use to "make sure your units are in the best position possible". And no, computers don't analyze everything but what is relevant to the situation. Once again, either by abstraction or calculation, both engines and masters work on concrete and probable problems according to the position on the board.

oh they don't? I'll try to phrase it better this time, but what I mean is like you examine all the moves available and move to somewhere were you won't lose that unit/will gain more resource/better positioning I can do this just fine for the first move, and I have trouble doing this for the second move just due to a lack of concentrating and/or memory. A computer could very easily due this if set up to. A computer is basically a billions of kindergartners working to solve out various tasks, and it don't require that much effort to see that a bishop can move one square over and be fine. I don't know if programmers haven't done this for practical reasons, or to just make the game winnable for humans. What I am sure of is that it would definitely be better, but more cpu and hardware intensive; not too sure if it would be significant to not have them do that.

Think of the problem as having to go to work in the morning. You have an objective (arriving on time) and although the cars and people on the street are not always in the same place, you still manage to avoid them. Moreover, you don't pay attention to each and every person and car, only those which may interfere with your objective.

Now, the issue with some playing chess is that they don't set objectives while playing nor can they differentiate "a tree" from "a car" and go around hoping to find some 100 dollars on the floor just because it's possible.

Okay will do so. Thank you for your view point and advice.