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Can you help me improve my game

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redstorm36
Hi my name is Chris and I started playing chess about two months ago. I really started to engage myself in the game when a club was started at my school. However I feel I lack the skill of many of the players in the club and have about a 20% win rate so far. I am looking to improve my game in any way possible. Any help would be appreciated I left a recent game i played below. Thx in advance everyone
 
 
Diakonia

The basics of each phase of the game

 

Opening:

Follow the Opening principles:

  1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5

  2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key

  • Complete your development before moving a piece twice or starting an attack.

  • Move pieces not pawns.

  1. Castle

  2. Connect your rooks

  • By move 12, you should have connected your Rooks, or be about to do so.

 

Middle game:

When you have completed the Opening Principles, you are now at the middle game. Now you need to formulate a middle game plan. The middle game is a very complicated part of a chess game. A simple way to develop a middle game plan is to perform the following steps.

  1. Scan your opponents 5th, and 6th ranks (3rd, and 4th if your black)

  2. Look for weak pawns, and or weak squares.

  • Weak pawns and squares are Pawns, and squares that cannot be defended by another Pawn.

  • Knights are excellent pieces on weak squares.

  • When deciding on weak squares, and weak Pawns to attack, the closer to the center the better

 

End game:

Start with the basics:

  1. Learn basic mates – KQ vs. K, KR vs. K, KRR vs. K

  2. Learn Opposition, and Key Squares

  3. Learn basic King and Pawn endings

 

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. 

redstorm36

Thank you so much i will keep all this in mind going into my next game 

Sqod

Your profile said you played Black in this game. It's slightly better to post a loss.

Some more specific advice:

(1) Don't bring out your queen so early because it exposes your queen to attack. In general (other than rooks), your units should usually come out in increasing order of value: pawns, then knights, then bishops, then queen. (5...Nf6 or 5...Nd7 was better than 5...Qd6.)

(2) Don't break up the pawns in front of your king because it exposes your king. (12...Qxf6 was better than 12...gxf6.)

(3) Watch for tactical moves, especially for win of material, at every move. For example, 15...Nxd4 or 15...Bxd4 wins material, and you have to keep an eye on White's best moves, too, since your bishop at b6 was about to be trapped and lost after c3 and a5.)