what should I learn or focus on as an 800?

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OnlysoloTheArtist
P.S. any good openings for beginners you guys recommend?
dannyhume
Until you are a master, your opening repertoire is tactics, your middlegame strategy is tactics, and your endgame technique is tactics.
jjupiter6

Yes, opening principles. Look it up.

RussBell

Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond...

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

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

megan9104
Openings
Kings pawn
Queens pawn
Chess_Player_lol

you should learn your tactics and understand your opponent's moves. think about the purpose of each of your moves and don't just move a piece because you don't know what to do. learn opening principles and develop your pieces in an active way. openings are not that important as a beginner just don't accept any gambits unless you know what to do. when you reach 11-1200 learning an opening may be useful but don't bother learning deep theoretical lines, the basics are fine even for my level.

IMKeto
OnlysoloTheArtist wrote:
P.S. any good openings for beginners you guys recommend?

Forget about openings and work on tactics and opening principles.

tygxc

Always check your intended ùpbe is no blunder before you play it.
That little mental discipline alone is enough to get to 1500.

CheckMateMaster146
I think the scisilian defense.
ypos

Tictacs

Solmyr1234
OnlysoloTheArtist wrote:
P.S. any good openings for beginners you guys recommend?

I'll tell you my own..

As White
===
As Black, against e4
===
As Black, against d4
===
As Black, against c4
===
As Black, against Nf3

You give space - I take space

 

sholom90
OnlysoloTheArtist wrote:
P.S. any good openings for beginners you guys recommend?

Any sound opening will work (meaning, anything but the ones that depend on gimmicks or traps).  Play around with a few of them, see which ones you like, and use that.

That said, however, it is paramount that you learn opening principles, not openings themselves, as your opponent is surely going to play things that you haven't prepared for.  

Here's a nice and short video summarizing opening principles.  Definitely worth 8 minutes of any beginners time! 

Circumlocutions
For me, I was able to advance from 800 relatively quickly by simply not blundering and basic tactical understanding
typicalpaul

focus on learning what the optimal moves are for different openings.  Learn that you must not make idle moves, but have purpose behind your moves.  Look for moves that are both offensive and defensive in nature. multi purposed, strive to focus and not leave pieces where they can be easily captured by a one move capture, and then focus on what your opponent is going to do if you make a move, and look for a better move.