How to Practice to Get Where I Want to Be?

Hello!

I first picked up a chess piece about two months ago. One of my friends was teaching me how to play. At first I was a little worried that I wasn't going to enjoy myself playing. I thought that it was an antiquated game, that other more modern games would more suit my desire for strategy and tactics. I've never been so wrong. I immediately fell in love with the game, but in such a short time playing, and an even shorter time on Chess.com, I've been so overwhelmed by the masses of information about everything related to chess. I am looking for help from you, the more experienced chess players.

A little background on myself, I'm a college student, attending Montana State University on a double major. I have an IQ of about 140, but I often let most of it go to waste out of apathy or boredom. Chess really lets me let my brain run, and I love it. As such, I really want to get to the level of playing that this game deserves.

I don't want to become any sort of master, or win tournaments, or anything like that. I simply want to get to the level in which chess is played how it's supposed to be played. I want to be at the level where winning a pawn is actually relevant to the outcome of the game. I want to get to the point where I don't slip full piece leads. I want to get to the point where whoever wins or loses is the one who plays the best game throughout, not whoever makes the game ending blunder with a lead. I want to be at the level where chess is played how it is meant to be played, where it's an art and a .2 point increase due to position is a big deal. 

So, please, if you have any tips for me as far as what to do to improve to that level, I'd love to hear them! Some things I've been doing are playing a lot (obviously a big one) and a little bit of tactics training. What else should I be doing? I don't have the money for a coach, so that's not really an option for me, but any little strategies to improve someone might be holding onto would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I don't understand how is possible that someone who has a double major waste time with chess. But I guess that's one of the reason why US is going bad, if their youth prefer to waste time in a game, instead of studying, and eventually give a contribution to the future of the country, like millions of Chinese or Indians are doing.

I respect chess as a sport, and of course respect those who have made of chess a life, like GMs or other professional coaches. But in your position, with your IQ, try to do something in your country, which is more valuable than pushing wood. Notice that my opinion is supported also by smarter people, with higher IQs, an example was Einstein, that couldn't understand why his friend Lasker would waste time playing chess.

However to tell you what you came asking for: you need to devote the next 10 years, (if you want to avoid hanging pieces, and learn how to win also with just one pawn advantage in for example a rook endgame), to study chess. Still there are master level players who get checkmated or hang pieces, just look the face of Wang Hao (2700 rated player) when Kosteniuk gave him checkmate. Or as personal experience I have won a game to a 2300 player (in tournament) thanks to him getting distracted, and make a bad blunder, and he is quite strong.

No need to bash a country man, that's bad taste. Switzerland is so high ranked in a lot of things, no need to mar that with rudeness. I do understand that the US has a lot of bad points, but no need to shove it in people's faces, especially when it's very off-topic.

Anyway, to answer ATStapley - tactics is a huge deal. If you study lots of tactics, you will be less prone to game-ending blunders, and more likely to exploit your opponent's game-ending blunders! Also study imbalances - it will help you evaluate positions that are materially equal yet show you how to gain an advantage anyway.

My IQ is in the 140s as well, and chess hooked me too! I didn't do a double major, but majored in Computer Science, which might as well be two majors with how tough it was! 

Just think of it this way - you can study chess a little bit, but focus on school. Once you're done with school, you will have more time to dedicate to chess. That's how I've been doing it.

To get the most out of your time, study primarily tactics.

I have a 3.8 GPA in a double major in Science Broadfield Secondary Education and Math Secondary Education. Could I get a 4.0? Yes. I don't want to make myself miserable for .2 GPA points when I can enjoy myself, be successful in school, and go on to teach generations of future Americans, contributing a wholehearted and caring education to the students of this great country. Heart and passion are much more important than intelligence. I'm sorry for you that you see enjoying oneself as a waste of time. 

cubis, thank you for the advice! I'll carry my iPod around more so I can play the tactics app more! 

I designed a free program on YouTube to help someone get to my level, master. Since you don't aspire to be that high you shouldn't have much difficulty as I have taken my experiences and figured out how to save your precious time by stressing what you should focus on, and what you shouldn't.

It's on my website, which is linked in my profile on the "about me" page. Also, i have a video lessons group here with support dydtrms in place to assist you.

Remember these words, for they will serve you well: never give up and remember to keep in mind that you aren't playing to defeat your opponent, you are ultimately playing to defeat yourself.  This is the first step in changing your thought process, the second is to train your mind to see your opponent's threats, evaluate a position, calculate, and making positional judgments when appropriate.  Find a database with the notation and engine panes off and write down your thoughts, such as positional assessments, evaluations, opponent's threats, and calculated lines.

As far as opponent's threats are concerned ask yourself what your opponent would do if it were his turn. 

If you desire to breakthrough to the next level of Chess you must keep this in mind, and also to let go of your desire, for desire ultimately holds us back.