Seeking understanding

First off, I am fully aware that I am a very low Elo. However, I am doing my best to change that. With that said, I will expound on my question. I am trying to learn and use opening theories, tactics, and all the other things that one should use to get better. When I do so though, particularly in the lower circle of Elo hell I am in, most of the players play some outlandish ideas that make me extremely confused. Honestly, I would refer to it like guerilla warfare. My best example I can think of is when a player shoots the queen across the board and basically just tries to start taking all my pieces instead of utilizing actual strategy. When this happens, should I abandon my plans and just focus on the one piece that they are rushing in with? Should I resort to guerilla tactics as well and get back to my plans later? Any help is appreciated.

Same. I can learn openings, gambits, and traps but the other player rarely ever moves their pieces in the same way as in the strats I've learned. I get the impression that the pro level players have to memorize literally thousands of possible variations for this strat knowledge to actually be helpful, and that's not something a casual would ever do.

I think one of the reasons Bobby Fischer melted down is because he recognized a significant portion of chess was being reduced to rote memorization, and that's why he helped create Fischer Random.

Supposedly you're supposed to pick up on key ideas after playing lots of games but IDKWTF I'm supposed to do even after hundreds of games.

Improving Your Chess - Resources for Beginners and Beyond…

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/improving-your-chess-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond…

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

Thanks, RussBell, for the links. I will look into them. I am also looking at purchasing Levy's book.

You should just refer to opening principles, but if you’e in the middlegame already then ask yourself what is wrong with my opponent and then if you see that they are making a off to the side move, just pushing a pawn and not developing the 4 other stuck pieces and if they do these then striking in the center or developing is good, but never overreact to their move and if their move doesn’t make a threat or doesn’t make a really serious threat afterwards then you can try to figure out your own plan. To learn about middlegame plans go to the table of contents in this forum and loook for just that. If I remember correctly it is no. 12 of the chess tips section. Here’s the link to the forum.
https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/chess-tips-and-annotated-games?page=1#comment-118650434

👍🏾👍🏾

I think you could be referring to the wayward queen attack. I have a video on my youtube for how to respond to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mrm8kGhCs0

But in general, at your rating level tactics aren't really needed. You just need to play really solid chess. Develop your pieces, castle, don't blunder, and take your opponents pieces when they blunder them. Nothing crazy. If you can learn to play consistently, not blunder and not make silly piece sacrifices, you can gain quite a lot of rating points. Tactics aren't really needed till around 1000.

I will check out the video, and I understand now. I will work on the fundamentals until I get better. I am sure that I will continue to build my skills over time. Thank you for taking the time to share your insight. It is greatly appreciated.

A few things:

1. NO ONE at your level knows, understands or plays opening theory. You're basically wasting your study time on openings.

2. All youre playing is speed chess. How are you expecting to improve when all youre doing is playing fast, not giving yourself time to think and or evaluate positions and formulate a game plan.

3. All you need is:

Opening principles.

Ask yourself before each move: "Are my pieces safe?"

After youe opponents moves ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"

Play slower time controls so you can implement what youre learning into your games.

NO ONE improved as a beginner playing speed chess. All youre doing is reinforcing bad habits.

Thank you LT Columbo. I will start using the slower controls, I didnt think about that one. Thank you for your time and insight.

Glad to help and good luck.