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

@ Unleash: You seem to have similar questions to the ones I had nearly a year ago. May I recommend a book to you? My System by Aron Nimzowich. I have it and love it. Prepare to spend hours over the board studying each chapter of this book.

Learn tactics first; everything else is built on them, including openings and strategy. Use the tactics trainer available on this site. You will improve.

ACTUALLY, that book is in my schools library!!! I thought about getting to read it, thanks for the recommendation!!!

Nah... the tactics trainer of the site isn't that good. It's exercises are a bit too easy and obvious, and I would prefer if it required you to build up a whole plan, because 3-move check-mates with queen sacrifice are too obvious and haven't really helped me.

OK, by playing 1:d4 against the computer at a level of about 1300, I stumbled upon a problem: 1:...e5. It lead me to an unpleasant ride of continuous threat by the black and problems advancing my donkeys and stuff (by the way, "donkeys" is just a funnier way to call knights). Any way to counteract it? Anyway, as it seems a good move for black, if I ever have to defend against 1:d4, I might take a look at it.

Eating the guy at e5 looks like a good idea, although it leaves the position a bit unprotected.

It has different levels, and also you can change the settings to focus on what you want; but....suit yourself.

Against 1...e5 just accept with:

Just decline the Englund Gambit--in a number of ways, including 2.e4 (transposing to the Centre Game) or 2.c3 (transposing to the Saragossa Opening). 2.d5 is sometimes seen, but leaves Black with a good game after 2...Bc5, while 2.e3 can be met by 2...exd4 3.exd4 d5 transposing to the Exchange Variation of the French Defence, and in addition Black can avoid 3...d5 and simply develop with a good game. 2...Nc6 and 2...e4 may also be playable. After 2.Nf3, Black gets a good game with 2...exd4 3.Nxd4 d5, preparing ...c5, and 2...e4 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nc4 d5 is also good for Black.

After 2.dxe5 Nc6, instead of 3.Nf3, White can also defend the e5-pawn with 3.Bf4, when either 3...g5 followed by 4...Bg7, or 3...f6 hoping to get an improved version of the Soller Gambit. 3.f4 is sometimes seen, but Black has reasonable chances after 3...f6 or 3...d6. White can also transpose to a line of the Nimzowitsch Defence with 3.e4.

All of these responses were great. Accepting it looked like a better choice, I believe. I will look a bit more into it.

TheGreatOogieBoogie, what if the black plays:

The computer (I used the free version of Deep Junior 12) suggested the move Bishop e4.

getchoooo on chesstempo and do the tactical training it is all self explanatory

What about 4.Bg5,Be7 5.Bxe7,Nxe7?  He can't play 4...Nf6 because of the pawn and 4...f6 5.exf6,Nxf6 6.e4 where white is up a pawn and black has superficial compensation at best. 

Ask yourself why Be4?

If you dont know the answer, then how is  chess engine going to help your game?

Has this forum turned into opening and engine discussion.

get a coach

No...

the reason to delay opening study is its extremely complicated for beginer or intermediate players...best advice is to pick one of the top two openings...Sicilian or Ruy Lopez (applicable for both white and black) and stick with them EVERY game so you get deeper in depth each time you play them and wont fall victim to traps as you learn more...

1. Tactics are the easiest way to boost your rating quickly plus it will teach you how to recognize patterns and how to avoid being trapped in a tactic yourself.
2. I recommend reading a book on one of the greatest GM's of all time, Kasparov or Capablanca specifically and also play through some of their top games with your chess board very slowly analyzing each postition.

you do those two things and you will boost your rating considerably within 3 to 6 months.

Stay thirsty my friend

That's what I did. I figured out that it does give some good support to the pawn, which is already quite near to the black's pawn line. Also, if the pawn moves further forward, it gives a good position to the bishop. I have now started to study my games and question every move. It's a new thing, and I am trying to get better.