Another how to get better post...

    You look like a hot chick.

    For the openings, put 1, 2 or 3 pawns in the center; develop your minor pieces; get castled.  These 3 thoughts cover 80% of chess opening knowledge. 

    For example:  1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. 0-0.....you have some center control provided by the e4 pawn and Knight, you have two minor pieces developed and you have castled and made your king safe. 

     Check out "Learn" > and then "Openings".

     Are you sure you wouldn't like to meet me for drinks?  I have a beautiful mane and can run fast!

    Do tactics.  Learn some King and pawn vs. King endgames.  Then some Rook plus pawn vs. Rook endgames (Kings included). 

     Analyze your games where you will discover gross tactical errors.

    Compare your openings to "openings" on chess.com.  Its under the "Learn" tab.

    You're cute!  Did I tell you I have a beautiful mane?

     Get "The Art of Checkmate" by Renaud and Kahn and go through this book---it is a relatively short book---it won't take that much time and it will improve your chess---or in the alternative you will get exposed to some beautiful chess games.

As a friend I would recommend you to forget about chess. It just brings problems and stress to life. As a chess.com user that does not care about your mental integrity I would suggest you getting Chess for Dummies. The title is weird but the content is good. 

here's something that migh help:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/how-to-improve-3

I asked the same question (in my first post here, see above).  The thing is, I didn't really know even what most of those advice were about because I was too new to chess.  Now, after 6 months, I gained a better appreciation for the advice in that thread.

I think the best way to improve is to join a teaching chess club if you have the time.

     You can learn some things by looking at your chess pieces---in the opening position the f2 and f7 pawns are protected only by their kings---thus if White attacks f7 with a Bishop on c4 and a Queen on f3, often Black will get checkmated by Qxf7++.  

     Also c2 and c7 are protected only by their respective queens, so, for example a White attack on c7 by Bishop on f4 and Knight on b5 could win the c7 pawn. 

     1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qf3 (now Black has to protect f7)  g6?? 4. Qxf7# mate because of the weak f7 pawn.

     1. d4 g6 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Nc6? (4...Bg7 would be better so that if 5. Nb5 then Black could respond 5...Na6 to protect c7)  5. Nb5 {and White wins material
because of the attack on the c7 pawn.

     Just thinking...

     Watch videos by Roman Dzindzihashvili (or however it is that he spells his name). 

light up a fag, blow smoke rings and look deserted, the guys will turn you into a WFM in no time.

     Watch "Chess Explained" on the youtube channel.  If you don't like Chris Sieliecki listen to Boney M and the song "Rah Rah Rasputin".

     IM John Bartholomew has some outstanding and instructive chess videos on youtube. 

 Thanks! I noticed your mane. Also your useful advice. This is getting too steamy for me, though.

I bought this DVD that apparently a bunch of people like and am not sure how to use it.

Also, Lucas Chess seems to have a ton of potential and I'm not sure how to get the most out of it.

I'd really like to watch Grandmaster games in their entirety somewhere....

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

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

Ø  Move pieces not pawns.

3.      Castle

4.      Connect your rooks

Ø    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 5^th, and 6^th ranks (3^rd, and 4^th if your black)

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

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

Ø  Knights are excellent pieces on weak squares.

Ø  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 moves: 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?"

I am really just asking about these programs. I have taken classes on all of the above and there are specific ways to get the most out of the computer programs I mentioned.

On tactics specifically:

Since you have a diamond membership, take advantage of the tactics lessons. Looking at your stats it seems you haven't done many of those. Learn about the types of tactics first, then you'll be more prepared to drill those tactical motifs. Your stats say you've done almost entirely mate in 1-3 and forks in the tactics trainer, but little else. Try to practice the other types: pins, skewers, removing the defender, etc. 

Effective learning requires not just any practice - it must be deliberate practice. There should be some principle you're thinking about and reinforcing when you practice. Just doing the same thing hundreds of times has sharply diminishing returns otherwise.

I like Chess.com's lessons but don't much like its tactics trainer myself. I've done about 3,000 short tactics puzzles on Lichess instead, and found it has been helpful in reducing the pieces I just give away, and opportunities I miss. Double attacks are highly important, sure, but I've found doing all tactic types improved my "board vision"

ChessTempo is also highly recommended, as I think someone mentioned in your other thread.

As for watching grandmaster games, I like the CCSCSL lectures. Mastering the Middlegame should include many complete games (despite the name)

https://www.youtube.com/user/STLChessClub

Hello

Don't know whether the helpful hints from Skinnyhorse You look like a hot chick. and I have a beautiful mane and can run fast

could help you that you are playing better now but there is a lot of stuff on this site you can use to increase the likelyhood of the games outcome for your side. As already said for example the tactics, puzzles, watching and analyzing the games from Pro's here, and much more.

Hi @Williamfwm: Thanks! I have been doing the tactics as they come up, which seems to be automatic. How do I pick particular things to study?

Thanks also RE: the videos. I have been watching Kasparov on YouTube and that is interesting as well.

@stoofvlees_friet: I think this might not be the kind of website you think it is.