How to improve?

I'm a beginner and can beat chess.com's computer on level 2 but not level 3.  I learned chess by playing a PC game called Majestic Chess (currently stuck on chapter 7 of its adventure mode, in case somebody's familiar w/ that game).

I find chess puzzles fun to do, but I have a hard time winning a real game because I carelessly march pieces into their immediate doom way too often (well, maybe "careless" isn't the best word, more like I just don't see obvious danger).  Against the computer, it isn't a big deal as I just undo the last move.  But I can't win against humans easily.

I'm wondering what's the next step to improve my game? 

Also, what is the typical game time for beginners with about 2 months of chess playing? 

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?"

Ah, I knew Diakonia would be dropping in soon. (It's good advice, btw.)

I can only add that you should also start on learning basic tactics, if you haven't already started. This includes the tactic of counting!

https://web.archive.org/web/20140615153114/http://www.chess.com/article/view/counting-vs-counting-material

BTW, I've played Majestic Chess - It was OK. It's still on my older PC -  Maybe one of these days I'll revisit the program.

Cant believe i havent added Tactics...tactics...tactics...to my all-purpose post.

Thanks for the reminder!

Whatever you're comfortable with, which means no blitz. 15 minutes per side minimum I'd say. I'm sure some other people give you a bigger number than this. Using your time wisely is important, but it's better to be rushed late on in the game than finish with nearly all of your minutes still left. Think about the position and the moves.

 They should glue a thread of Diakonia's posts.  We should call it something like FAQ Please read before posting.

Gotta say no to that, but thanks.  The rush of power might go to my head, and i would be unbearable to be around.  

lets answer your most specific question (and thank you for a specific questionBTW)

"What is the typical game time for beginners with two months of chess playing experience"....

Beginners need to play the SLOWEST time control they can tolerate, without aborting the game.  for a "G" kind of game you need the have the time to play a game that includes all of your game and all your opponents.

so generally, i would recommend a G30 game with that game taking as long as 1 hour.   if this seems cumbersome G10 and G15 are better than the alternatives.

no inexperienced chessplayer should play anything quicker than G5; which is simply guessing given how poorly most chess players think & visualize (and I'm including myself in that category)

-....

feel free to ask any other specific question that occurs to you.  more generic questions can usually be answered by googling.  good luck

Diakonia,Thanks for the good information.

Youre very welcome.  Use it for good, and not evil.

Possibly of interest:

Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/7192.pdf

Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf

The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/

Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1949)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf

Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf

Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)

http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html

Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf

A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf

Post some of your games with your thoughts in them and I will discuss the games with you. It will help you improve.

Do some tactics. Include deeper tactics. Play everyday.

i am "the_venom".

Can somebody give me an advice? I'm getting a little frustrated; I tend to play good games for being an amateur (overall, not always) and I noticed some improvement recently. But I have a tendency to play well, maybe win some advantage (sometimes obvious), and then - in the crucial moment - sistematically end up making blunders, which are not simple blunders, but typically compromise completely my game. Basically: the only move you're not supposed to do, I go for it. When I later check my game with the computer, I notice that I tend to have a higher number of "excellent moves" with  respect to my opponent, which really bugs me. My hunch is that this pattern emerges from a psychological more than technical issue. Maybe I cannot stand the pressure of having an advantage an having to keep it in order to eventually win? Do you have any advice on possible ways to improve your psychological stamina and resistance to pressure?

Everyone at every level does the same. You play your game, get a nice position and then something goes awry. Over time, the errors become ever more subtle and harder for the opponent to punish or, maybe, even notice but they are always there. Just keep playing and analysing games, especially your own: time and experience are the only mentors.

Go to your local public library. Ask the librarian which is the best book they have for beginners. Borrow it. Study it until you know it backwards, like you studied (or should have studied...), your school mathematics textbooks.

@Ruggero_Kauber: Could you be relaxing too much? You think you have won the game and so don't bother calculating your next moves properly. Just remember a rook advantage is *nothing* at our level, with all our blundering, and concentrate as hard as you would in a level game.