Two quick questions

I'm pretty brand new to chess and also pretty bad at it. I watch videos and read blogs, but info in/info out without practice. So...

Question 1: Is it possible to improve playing games vs computer? I don't generally have time for long matches vs humans, and the few blitz matches I've played have felt more like I'm just semi-randomly moving pieces and hoping my opponent makes more bad moves than I do.

Also, question 2: What does it mean when discussing lines and variations? I try to stick to the Ruy Lopez opening (I read to stick to one or two openings as a beginner) but do chess players really memorize every possible move their opponent might make and the perfect response??

Thanks in advance, and sorry if these are dumb questions. As I said, total newbie here.

You can probably get better just playing computers but computers don't play like humans, for the most part, and you'll mainly just get better at playing computers. Even lower rated computers play differently and you won't get used to seeing the kinds of mistake real players will make and be able how to learn how to get advantages there.

To your second point, some people will advocate studying and memorizing lines. However, unless you have a very, very good memory, that may not be the best use of your time. You should try and learn the main ideas in the opening you play, since a lot of the time, the people you will play won't stay in book for very long and you'll have to know how to continue the game once the game is beyond the point of your memorization/preparation.

Just learn some of the more common lines to make sure you're not falling into traps and play a lot of games with those openings; you should be able to organically learn more of the openings you play by getting experience in them. If you find yourself in a positions where you constantly wonder what to do, then look up what is normally done in such positions and try to understand why that is or find resources that explain those ideas.

Most all chess players (but especially important for beginners) do not simply memorize opening moves. As one plays chess more, then you may learn many openings and lines (yes: some memorization), but this isn't nearly as important as many think. There are far too many chess mathematical move possibilities to memorize. Strong chess players are masters at something called "pattern recognition." It isn't feasible (nor advisable) to memorize moves. It is more important to recognize patterns (things like structures or tactical themes) and to understand the "thinking" behind the moves. 

Allow me to then answer the two questions in inverse order, as I think it is easier to answer this way. For the second question: the best way to learn openings is by learning the ideas at play; move memorization (if you get there) is a ton easier to find when you understand why those moves are good. This way, you can "discover" good moves on your own, if your opponent deviates from a mainline variation. Actually, it is more a matter of when they will deviate from a "book line." Unless you are playing a fellow GM in an opening of a 30-deep move variation, chances are you or your opponent (even if a strong player) will deviate within the first 10 moves and deviating within even 5 moves is often expected at the beginning levels of chess players. Discussion of lines and variations simply means discussion of moves commonly played (or at least significant enough to be named and studied). These "mainlines" are usually deemed solid by practice and repetition from strong players over the years; but even then, mainlines are still constantly being improved and refuted - another reason to learn openings via ideas and chess principles and less emphasis on blind memorization.

Similarly, to address the first question: I believe it is possible to improve by playing against a computer: but I wouldn't advise it. The computer is less likely to deviate in the same way a human player would.

p.s. I am typing from a mobile device and small keyboard, so if my response doesn't make sense entirely (or if you have further questions), then feel free to send me a message and I'll be glad to either add or rephrase in a way that makes more sense.

Hope this helps

It can seem that way with some opponents, but that is an illusion. In beginner games, there are certain positions that are common. Some players have acquired a lot of experience with them.

Thank you guys for your replies. You've given me a semblance of hope

OP wrote:

I'm pretty brand new to chess and also pretty bad at it. I watch videos and read blogs, but info in/info out without practice. So...

My Response:

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So, what videos do you watch?  What blogs do you read?  Are you saying you watch videos and blogs but don't play any chess yet expect to improve??  I think you already know that if you don't practice what you learn you are not going to improve.  The best way to learn is to play chess and see where your weak points are and study to improve on those areas.  Right now your weak points are that you blunder pieces left and right the first thing you need to do is stop blundering pieces by asking before you make a move, "is my move safe?"  You have to check to see if it can be taken by another piece just before you are about to make a move.  Also, after your opponent makes a move you have to see if he is making any forcing moves.  Forcing moves are checks captures and threats.  If there aren't any you have to try and look for some of your own that you can do to your opponent.  If you can't, then maybe the answer is something else.  Like change the pawn structure, develop a piece, etc.  All these things can be learned by studying annotated master games, especially from the book Logical Chess Move by Move.  When studying master games try to remember the general plans of the position, and how the master converted to a win.  These underlying principles, are the things you need to acquire to become a good chess player.   I wasn't born being as good as I am, and due to my lack of focus, I am not good as I could have been this day, however, that's beside the point, the point is, getting good takes time, and if you are not practicing by playing your own games you are really shooting yourself on the foot.

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You wrote:

Question 1: Is it possible to improve playing games vs computer? I don't generally have time for long matches vs humans, and the few blitz matches I've played have felt more like I'm just semi-randomly moving pieces and hoping my opponent makes more bad moves than I do.

My Response:

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It is recommended by various chess coaches that the road to improvement involves playing chess with people.  Dan Heisman writes in a lot of his books that computers play very differently than humans, and their type of play will not be the same as a human opponent.  Of course, people have told you this already, so I'm not going to get into any detail, just that there is a screaming majority that states not to play computers for improvement, but rather play against other humans.

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You Wrote

Also, question 2: What does it mean when discussing lines and variations? I try to stick to the Ruy Lopez opening (I read to stick to one or two openings as a beginner) but do chess players really memorize every possible move their opponent might make and the perfect response??

My Response:

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I've seen your openings.  They are very bad.  Just learn general opening principles for now.  Pick a response and stick with it.  Don't play different things in every game.  Don't move minor pieces in front of your unpushed pawns to avoid allowing them to be pushed for central control.  Move knights before bishops, and for you, don't blindly put a piece on g5/b5/b4/g4.  Don't blindly put pieces anywhere for that matter.  I just said what I said just now because you seem to like placing pieces on those squares often sentencing them to their deaths because you don't check to see if they can be taken you just move your pieces there.  

I've said before that beginners should even start using an opening repertoire as a beginner so that they can learn to play the same thing everytime they play.  However, that will take help from someone else that knows a lot more than you, or it could cost moola.  If you don't have moola, the cheapest route to take when dealing with openings is to just get free database software like scid vs the computer, get a huge database, or even go to chessgames and just use their database, or, if you have a diamond membership on chess.com, just use the opening explorer, after every game, to see where you deviated from the mainline, or where you started your "sideline".  And then drill the mainline, or the sideline you picked until you get it down cold.  Hikaru Nakamura said the way he learned tons of openings is by looking them up after he played a game every time, till he was just good at everything.  Dan Heisman said once that you should make your own personal opening book.  That you can go back to, to drill, until you got them down.  Only include new openings you encounter, or where you missed a tactical shot to win the game, or where you were just outplayed in the opening.

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If you like Dan Heisman's idea of creating an opening book of your own to drill yourself to learn the lines you messed up on, then go to his website and learn more!  

Dont play humans unless your really good. Computers dont play as humans. I have 800 ranking and no computer can simulate what I and other at my level do.