What are the best ways i can improve?

I have always had an interest in chess but I never completely got into it until a few days ago. And all of the information on this website scares me off a little. What are the best ways I can get better? I am also very very very slow when I'm deciding my turns and I have only played against the computer so far, is that normal? Sorry for all of the questions I made this account like a year ago when I thought I was gonna try to learn chess but I kinda gave up so I'm trying again.

Dear IamMumosh,

I can help you with improving all of your skills (openings, strategies, tactics and endgames) at chess. I am an official, full-time chess coach. Let me introduce myself.

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).

You can see a lot of feedbacks from my coaching services here: https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-lessons/feedbacks-from-my-services

Why should you choose me?

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

- I have a lot of chess books in PDF and Chessbase format, so I can teach you the main middlegame plans, the art of calculations, famous chess games and the endgame theory.

- I have elaborated, personalized training plans, which help you to improve your skills effectively.

- I help you analyse your games deeply, so you can realise your mistakes and learn from them.

- I am really flexible and hard-working person, the quality of my work is really important for me.

- My lessons are on Skype or Zoom with webcam and screensharing. (Skype ID: balazs.gabor91 ; Zoom ID: balazsgabor1991@gmail.com)

- I give homeworks, so you can also practice alone and I check your solutions in my free time.

- I answer your messages within 1 day, I am not the type of coach who disappears for a week after the lesson.

My hourly rate is 35 USD/hour.

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

Thank you for the invitation! although I do not think I am in the position to hire a coach yet as I do not think I am dedicated enough yet. But I do appreciate the thought! 

No problem!  If you change your mind, I'm at your service.

Get a book for beginners ya goose 

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

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

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Don't think of the all the information as stuff you have to read at once, just think of it as stuff you'll have access to later as you continue to improve. 

The first thing to make sure you do is play more games. Find a good time control to play people with. Fast enough you can get a full game done at once, but slow enough you are not in time trouble. This usually has the added benefit of making your games easier to view so people can see your skill level and give more specific tips. 

The first piece of advice I find useful is avoiding throwing pieces away in one move. So not noticing your queen is under attack and forgetting to do something to protect it. We all make mistakes, but cutting out the silly blunders we can clearly see are mistakes if we look at them does a good deal towards improving. 

I notice that you joined over 2 years ago and so far have not played any games that I could see. Nor have you done any puzzles. That's where I'd start. Also, there a thousands and thousands of master games on this site for you to explore and play over. Click on More>Master Games. This is a terrific way to absorb some great principles of chess while being entertained. Play through them quickly just to get a feel for the game, and then play the same game over slowly, trying to predict what move comes next. I always do this from the winning side. Don't worry about having just looked at the game; I guarantee you've already forgotten most of the moves. 

You might consider buying "Chess, Beginners & Intermediate - openings, strategies & endgames" written by Hugh Patterson. Published in 2018, cost $A25, and provides a clear explanations.  I have rediscovered chess as a relative beginner during the plague, & found it to be a very useful resource.

Opening Principles:

1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5.
2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key. Centralized piece control more squares.
3. (King Safety)
4. Connect your rooks. There should be no pieces between your Rooks.

The objective of development is about improving the value of your pieces by increasing the importance of their roles (Piece Activity).  Well-developed pieces have more fire-power than undeveloped pieces and they do more in helping you gain control.

Now we will look at 5 practical things you can do to help you achieve your development objective.

They are:

1. Give priority to your least active pieces.

• Which piece needs to be developed (which piece is the least active)?
• Where should it go (where can its role be maximized)?

1. Exchange your least active pieces for your opponent’s active pieces.
2. Restrict the development of your opponent’s pieces.
3. Neutralize your opponent’s best piece.
4. Secure strong squares for your pieces.

Don’t help your opponent develop.

There are 2 common mistakes whereby you will simply be helping your opponent to develop:

1. Making a weak threat that can easily be blocked
2. Making an exchange that helps your opponent to develop a piece

Pre Move Checklist:

1. Make sure all your pieces are safe.
2. Look for forcing move: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"

General Ideas.

1. Stop playing blitz, and bullet.  Play longer time controls of at least G45, or longer.  
2. Follow Opening Principles:

• Control the center.
• Develop minor pieces toward the center.
• Castle.
• Connect your rooks.

1. Study tactics...tactics...tactics.  One of my favorite quotes is this: "Until you reach Master, your first name is tactics, your middle name is tactics, and your last name is tactics”.
2. Double Check your moves.  Before making a move, ask yourself: "Are my pieces safe?"
3. After your opponent moves, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"
4. Analyze your games WITHOUT a chess engine, then have someone stronger go over the games, or post them online for review.
5. DO NOT memorize openings. Learn and understand the pawn structure, and piece placement for the opening you wish to learn.
6. Learn Basics Mates:

• K vs. KQ
• K vs. KR
• K vs. KRR

1. Learn Basic King and Pawn endings.

• KP vs. K
• Opposition

1. Have Fun!

great summary. I'll also say Chess.com has some great resources in the form of their drills, puzzles, lessons, etc. that is layed out really cleanly and clearly if you are willing to splurge for a membership. It may seem like a lot but the $50 has been more than worth it for the amount of information you get in my mind