struggling to win

I've gotten up to 600. Been struggling to get even close to that. What do i do?

here is what i would recommend and this is what helped me

first- stop playing blitz; even 10 min
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when i started here i leveled off at a whopping 450 in rapid; after losing every game i stopped playing rapid and switched to daily games so everything could slow down and i could use the analysis board for each move

it was like chess with training wheels

i watched john bartholomew’s “chess fundamentals” and “climbing the ratings ladder” series on youtube

i also started doing tactics; since you are a diamond member you have unlimited access so go to it; do a problem and abuse the analysis tool for each problem (i would also recommend getting a tactics book to specifically and methodically train the tactical motifs)-(pm me if you want to know what i did)

after one of your games take the time to go over each move;
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another thing i did, since i only use chess.com app, was get an ios app chess database; this allows me to “copy” game from chess.com and “paste” it into my database; then i can easily enter any thoughts, fears, ideas, etc. (and even variations when appropriate)- i can further organize the games however i want so i have all my white games together, black games elsewhere, etc...
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i, undoubtedly, do my best when i play a game with my utmost attention (i try to only play 30min) and after- win, lose, or draw- do a thorough “go through”
only then will i start another game

i also do my best when i only play 2 or, maybe, 3 games and not every day (too many days and my performance suffers; also if i play other time controls-blitz, or even 15/10 or more 30min games)

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this attention got my head above water

after i got around 1000ish i started to play otb rated classical games; and, started using a chess coach
my bi weekly lessons were even more beneficial if i had a few of my most recent otb games (which i have in my handy database after transposing them from the tournament and giving my analysis) ready to send to him before our lessons

this way the time and study planned can be specifically tailored to really hit the key issues arising in the games where i, hopefully, channeled my most concentration for as long as possible
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if you want a generic improvement plan i would just suggest doing tactics 30min a day; watching the john bartholomew series’, and immediately stop playing blitz and stick to longer games (30 min at least,) and even do some daily games if you need to, if you take time to go over your games after and try to maximize quality over quantity, you will improve faster than not doing this

I looked at your recent games and your last 2 defeats in particular. .. Looks like you only play 10 minute games - this is not long enough if you want to improve. You made 50 moves in 7 minutes in one of the games - that's less than 10 seconds for each move. You don't give yourself time to think about it properly and you are not strong enough to intuitively know what you should be doing. I suggest daily games, 1 move every 3 days, get a few started, you can work stuff out on the analysis board, take your time. Try to play opponents who are equal in rating/slightly higher than you. Your errors were normal stuff, missing threats, missing chances to win material, placing pieces on the wrong squares and not seeing the consequences. All this will become much easier to see if you slow it down. When you improve you can then return to quick games and be better because you will be able to recognise the patterns quicker. Doing plenty of tactic puzzles and going through the lessons on here will also help you. In the 2nd game I looked at you got in a horrible mess with black vs the 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 opening and lost in less than 10 moves. This opening is a common tactic at beginner level and is known to be bad for white. A bit of research will mean you should never lose like that again - search the forums or Google 'wayward Queen attack' and you will quickly find the best way for black to respond. There is an almost endless amount of stuff to learn and see in chess, so be patient, try not to get mad/disheartened if you lose or don't feel like you are progressing. Set little goals - get to 600 again. Then 650 etc. It will come in time if you enjoy the game. 

Studying is much more productive than playing. Start using the tactics trainer on here and get your rating 400-600 above what your goal is and then you can start playing again. Also do longer time controls  

Thats a lie, nothing beats experience

Don't move your king unless to castle, one thing, don't just give checks just to check, be wary of your opponents threats. Just don't drop pieces and you'll do fine.

STOP PLAYING BLITZ

Thats also bad. Analyze your games after the fact well, but play blitz. It teaches you to think on your feet.

Learn an opening, and stick to it. I recommend Italian, Scotch, or Indian opening, you can quickly develop your pieces when playing white. When playing black, you can't go wrong with sicilian or french opening, depending on what white moves. Good luck.

There is no Indian opening. Scotch is drawish. Italian can be aggressive but overly theoretical. Sicilian has many complex ideas thus not very good at his level, the French can lock it the LSB and give white a spacial advantage which makes it hard. For white, scotch is okay, but four knights is less drawish, and has many aggressive or passive/ solid variations and is very common. For black Caro kann.

Hi fried! White opens with pawn two spaces forward on its strong side (queen side) I thought that was Indian. 

Italian will allow player to develop bishop and knight and castle quickly, I have not reviewed any games from this player yet, so not sure of their strengths in the game yet.

Indian is this, and for black, d4 nf6, so you were close. its called the Indian game though. Lastly, fun fact, in every opening for black minus the Grob, Nf6 is one of the best moves.

Right on! Develop your pieces as quickly as possible. Knights are the only piece that can jump over pawns. 

my only problem with he four knights is that the two main variations, Spanish and scotch are slow, and Italian four knights has an inherit flaw, so I play Gunsburg, four knights then a3

Awesome guys. Thanks for the feedback!!!🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

That's right, he should play bullet

Blitz is for fun. Slow time controls are for improvement. Study should be combined with actual play, so that you get experience in applying the things that you are learning.

As others mentioned, focus on the longer formats of the game and develop your ability to calculate. Occasionally, play some bullets (too) because then you will easily figure out the flaws in your openings. This is because in bullets, players will primarily trick you based on your opening flaws. 

So, focus on the longer formats, tactics and bullets (in that order). Also, as others mentioned, subscribe to John Bartholomew in YouTube.