A little help for (higher level) beginners wanted: What to study first and how?

I have decided to actually learn proper chess. I have been not bad (I think that is the best expression to describe me) at the game for quite some time, and recently  I have decided to actually get properly good. 

I have been hearing "Learn tactics first - ignore openings until you have a higher level" for quite some time, BUT:

1) Openings have been really useful to me for some reason

2) I don't even know how to "study" tactics

A little help on studying tactics, making clear to me the "don't study openings' thing and generally help on how to learn proper good chess would be highly appreciated. Please be relevant (OK, don't be if you want) and helpful.

Thank you

I'm sure someone will be able to come up with some fresh advice but in the meantime, here's 40 or 50 previous threads to get you started:

http://www.chess.com/forum/search?keyword=beginner+advice

And if you've never visted NM Heisman's website you have a real treat, including 10 years worth of his award winning monthly columns:

http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Articles/Novice_Nook_Links.htm

And finally, it's become increasingly difficult to find a copy of Chessmaster since Ubisoft discontinued it but it's worth the hunt if only for Bruce Pandolfini's wonderful treatment of the first 4 moves for both sides in the intermediate level Academy.  Have fun and good luck with your game.  I think we all know that chess is a waste of time but what a magnificent way to waste it!

Oh and because it's snowing again in Boston and I'm really bored, here's Coach Heisman's take on studying tactics:

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman109.pdf

Thank you for the reply, you are wonderful.

Wait, did you just say it snows? Here in Greece it did not snow for the whole winter! Pitty, it is the first time that happens. And I really wanted some snow this year. 

:

Two of these are fails, in one I caused a draw and in the other I simply resigned. Only one of all the games I posted were played against a human being (live chess). Some of these games do represent my playing style, although generally I have no real style this season, as I recently started to experiment a lot more to learn new kinds of strategies. Many of these games were filled with mistakes from my side, and... well... I do admit I took a couple of moves back when I played with a computer. 

Note: I caused the draw because I stood no chance against the computer, he had 2 rooks and 1 queen, and I merely had 1 queen.

Note 2: The last game vs the computer (the one I lost) was me failing to counter-act the Sicilian. Have I mentioned I hate the Sicilian?

You're welcome.  I seem to have developed a near pathological need to help people, must be overcompensating for something.  Boy would you ever enjoy the eastern half of the USA this winter; snow storm after snowstorm after snowstorm.  Sorry, I suck too badly myself to do chess analysis.

Move 34 should have been 34...Rf7+ and you would have your Queen vs. opponent's Knight.

Yeah, I thought about that when I was playing, but it was too late... too late...

Thank you for your interest.

I just posted some games I played against the computer. I am open to corrections.

For game ECO: A46, move 37 should be 37.Qf1#.

OH MY GOD I didn't even think about that awesome move, although it looks so simple!! That is good! Thank you everybody for such a great response, and I think I have to be a bit more careful with moves such as 37:...Qf1!

TheGreatOogieBoogie, your analysis was extremely helpful,and pointed out all the mistakes and roads that were not taken. This kind of response is what I was really anticipating for, and thank you about that! 

I recommend you try some chess mazes that focus on the Rook, Bishop, and Knight to help visualize board geometry. For example, the Knight's Tour puzzle is a good one.

Unleash_the_Queens...

In a nutshell here is something that will help:

1.      The main idea of a chess game is piece activity.  Without it, you arent going to win. 

Openings--There is a great quote by a GM.  The only purpose of the opening is to get to a playable middle game.  This is one of the most important things to remember.

1.      The main ideas of the opening are:

a. Control the center -- (e4-d4-e5-d5), and as your game improves, the huge center (c4-c6, d4-d6, e4-e6, f4-f6)

b. Develop your pieces towards the center.

c. King Safety (Castling)

d. Connect your rooks.

1.      How do decide on a move?

a. The principle of the least active piece -- This is why you develop knights before bishops.  After playing e4, the king's bishops already controls the f1-a6 diagonal.

b. The principle of maximum activity -- Develop your pieces as deep into your opponents side of the board as safely possible.

c. The principle of keeping up the pressure -- Make your moves count! If you have a choice between playing Bc4, or Bb5 pinning the knight, then pin the knight as long as its safe to play.

Following this advice will get you through the opening, and into a playable middle game.   

As an IM once said..."Until you get to 1800, your first name is tactics, your middle name is tactics, and your last name is tactics. 

Find 2 openings you like to play with white, and with black.  Learn the ideas/principles behind those openings.  DO NOT study openings. 

Now that you are in the middle game, it gets difficult :-)  Good Luck!

@ I_am_second: How good it is not to be first, right?

Good advice you gave.

You can not afford to be second in the game of chess lol. However you can not but afford to be at the minimum second in the game of life, if you want to call it a game...LF6 Comment Trail

LF6...in life, just as in chess, and being chased by a tiger.  You dont have to be the fastest...just the second slowest :-)

Akafett, I have tried out the knight's tour, it is really fun . Also, do you know another one (it is quite hard) that requires you to place I think 8 queens in such a way that they don't threaten each other? Anyway, I will try that.