How do you actually get better at chess?

Hey guys,
I joined chess.com a day ago and I’ve been playing non-stop. I’ve watched the tutorials, tried the puzzles, messed with openings… and still, I keep blundering pieces like I’m doing it on purpose. It’s annoying because I know I’m not terrible, I see the ideas after I lose, but never in the moment.

I’m trying to figure out how people actually climb ELO without burning out or memorizing 100 lines of theory. Everyone says “just play more” or “analyze your games,” but that doesn’t help much when you don’t even know what you’re looking for in your analysis.

So yeah, I’m curious: what actually worked for you? Like, what was the turning point where chess started to click? Was it a mindset thing? Studying endgames? Losing a hundred games in a row until something snapped?  

I would love to know,

"Memorizing 100 lines of theory" is a terrible way to improve unless you're very near the top. Even at my level, people will hang pieces occasionally (not quite as often as some folks would like you to believe, but still) and as long as you can memorize enough of one or two openings that don't suck, you're good.

Most people will tell you about opening principles, though. Indeed, they are the rules you should generally go by when starting the game.

As for reviewing, what I usually do is look at the game without game review enabled and search for the moment(s) where the evaluation bar did a noticeable swing (meaning the move was a mistake). Remember, not all mistakes are hanging pieces or mate. Sometimes it's giving your opponent the opportunity to put a knight in a very problematic place, or opening your king to potential harassment that might not lead to checkmate, but could still lead to other problems.

One important thing to do during the game is to think before you move. Consider the moves your opponent is most likely to do in response to your move (even if they're blunders) and prepare accordingly, but always be prepared for something unexpected. This will also help you to not put your pieces where your opponent can just make them vanish for free and allow you to see what your opponent is trying to do so you can react accordingly. If you struggle with this, try a longer time control or use an increment (bonus time for each move played).

On a different note, I don't know why people say you should "play more." In my opinion, that's kind of silly. If you're frustrated and playing badly because of your frustration, the best thing to do is stop. Come back when you're not frustrated anymore and start hammering away again.

thank you for the advice, its really helpful...

https://www.chess.com/play/arena/4498571 30 Sec Arena

30 seconds is NOT gonna help

Non premium members:

Not me because I have comet MUHUAHUAHUAHUAHUA

Newcomers should concentrate on learning general principles. You can learn these much faster from instructional books and videos than from playing other beginners and trying to figure them out on your own.

Do NOT try to memorize opening sequences That is not learning to play chess. If you learn the general principles, you can apply them to any opening and play moves tthat, while perhaps not the best, will let you reach a playable position.

how to stop leaving material hanging? Check your opponent’s threats before you move. And play a slow time control that gives you time to think about your moves.

Dont just play countless blitz games. That will not teach you much. It is more helpful to spend a few weeks with good instruction books than it is to play 6 months of blitz games against others at your level.

if you have a club in your area, become a regular. Listen to the stronger players when they analyze a game. The trick to improving is to learn how strong players think.

I'm new and kind of addicted too haha.

What I'm doing is just focusing on one thing at a time.

I mean some sessions I just try and do solid openings developing pieces and strengthening the center. I call it a 'win' in my learning if I do that, and don't worry too much about the rest

Another day, I just focus on blunder prevention. Make it a habit to try and double check. It's hard. Then try and understand why I blundered in the replay. Often times I was too excited to make a move and didn't look. I try and count how many moves before a I do a clear blunder and then improve.

And other days I just work on Scholars Mate counter moves I watched on YT. Those can be fun days.

Use CCA it is a tactic.CCA=Checks,Capture,Attack.Always look for checks,hanging pieces and attacks

This might be a bait, but anyway... If you joined yesterday, you haven't had the time to hone your skills that much. Learn to attack and checkmate the opponent, learn about tactics, puzzles are good. Italian or Scotch opening is probably best at your level, or the London System, leave the complicated positional openings for later. Learn about the Scholar's Mate, at your level that's what many people try to go for, you can try it out yourself, but it's not going to work very far in the future, if you keep improving.

Yo

I was playing 10 minute games over the board on Thursday and I beat the guy who won our championship at 10 mins the week before, either 3-1 or 4-1 and then won a couple of games against someone else. Started to feel a bit tired, had a pint of beer to see if it would wake me up and it did the opposite and came out of the games against the last person 2 1/2 - 2.1/2. In the last game I moved a piece to where it could be taken for free and resigned. Admittedly it was a strange chess set and the bishops were rather small. There was one hiding behind his queen but it was still just a lack of observation.

Lack of focus and lack of full concentration isn't something you can put right if you play 5 minute games or ten minute games. You're not used to scanning the board .. that's a skill which has to be developed. So if you're playing fast games, slow down. Play all moves in 30 minutes. If you can't get opponents here to do that, join a live chess club and improve there. The important thing is to look at your opponents pieces and the squares they control.

Listen to this guy, he's straight up the smartest person in the world (not).

I would say just do a lot of puzzles, and actually why tf are you expecting to improve in a few days??? It takes some time.

bc, my over the board rating is 1300+ but like the random ahh moves the begginers do really throw me off, but I have won most my my games atleast

I like to watch videos and learn from them! (yay, I now know the kings pawn opening, queens pawn opening, and the English gambit.)

I agree. That's probably too fast for OP's level.

Keep trying different time choices. If you keep losing because you're running out of time, you definitely need a different selection.