I don't improve in chess?

I don't improve in chess. I study, do tactics and play every day, but still don't improve, yesterday I lost against a newbie because I did stupid moves. I don't understand why I do stupid moves, but I see them soon after I did them or I analyze the match. This is one of the biggest problems. The other are that I have little visualization of the board and I ofter leave hanging pieces or don't see mates in 1, so I must search for hanging pieces or mates so I lose of lot of time only to do this; I do about 20 tactics a day and I can solve them, but my game doesn't improve. I'm slow in thinking, because I always have to search for mates, hanging pieces or try to understand my opponent's plan, because I don't see them soon. The latest problem is that OTB I'm very restless so I play bad, instead online I'm more relaxed and I play better.

study one of your games and analyse them as if your the kibitzer in your game. Move back at least 4 moves from the lossing move and see how your opponent setup the win and vice versa.It wroked for me.

You'l get some good advice here, but check out Coach Heisman's web site at danheisman.com for a wealth of good advice.  Coach is a big believer in pattern recognition as key to improvement. Solving tactics puzzle through calculation is good, but instantly recognizing the solution because you know the tactical pattern it's based on is even better.  However you choose to study, tactics are considered the quickest way to improve so I'd concentrate on that.  Lots of good tactics books available for study away from the computer; Bain's Chess Tactics for Students is on everyone's list and well worth tracking down.  Good luck.

I do tactics on chesstempo

It doesn't matter where you study tactics.  Coach's point is that you have to learn basic tactics to the point that you recognize them in the same way that you know your multiplication tables.  If this concept is new to you, please check out his website. 

You did not say what "kind" of chess you have trouble playing...blitz, turn move, etc.  I'm just recently returning to chess and I'm not a strong player, but as a retired teacher there are two things I think are important to think about.

First, slow down and play longer games.  If you are losing in fast online games, try playing 3-day games that give you much more time to look over a position and try to understand it.  Use the analysis board to try candadate moves and look for traps, hanging pieces, etc.

Second, recognize that while you will get many different opinions on what works in training, not all ideas work well for everyone and not everyone learns the same way.  If you are more of an auditory learner, try the video lessons.  If you are a visual learner, then pattern recognition is good and books may help.

By keeping a game notation of your moves and then going back over them and working on your errors, you will learn to eliminate them.  Slow down.  You cannot learn when you do not have time to think about your moves.  Blitz is fun, but unless you are a strong player, you cannot learn much by playing it.

If you solve 20 tactics a day, then maybe you need some stategic or positional help. I recommend studying pawn structures, outposts, open files, etc.

Just my opinion, Chad :) 

I play 2 minute when I have not much time to play, I don't expect improvements. I prefer to play 30 minutes online and at chess club I play 15/20 minutes

I'd say give it time. With experience, your play will gradually improve. It might be improving at a rate which you're not noticing, but you're improving.

Well, play even longer games... 15/20 really isn't that slow either, play more 3 day games. 

As for chesstempo that's a great site but perhaps you are playing in blitz mode? Stick to standard and really think a problem over in your head for at least ten minutes before you give up. Watch out for your oppenents plans too. At your level you probably don't need to concentrate on memorizing individual patterns, you'll naturally burn more patterns in your head by thinking hard on each problem.

Forget about memorizing openings, stick to principles and study endgames. For now, basic checkmates and king-pawn games. 

Buy the book "the game of chess" by Siegbert Tarrasch and don't play another game of chess until you have read the entire book.

If you do not have time to play longer games, play multiple games of 3-day/move chess here on chess.com.  Have them going on all the time "in the background."  If you like playing in real time on the clock, that's OK, but invest in some good long-time games to force yourself to think.  When you have finished your blitz games, come down to earth and think about your 3-day/move games.  I keep about 4 going at one time, and since this is an international site, the move replies can come in any time night or day.  You then have 3 days to reply to each move.

kavanam ha scritto:

chemistry  does not work out between you and chess, so try some other game! dont waste time!

Thanks, this is the most helpful comment I read!

I don't see why you can't drop the two minute games and play a game using the time to contemplate a move over three days.

Stop playing blitz and start playing long time games.Take your time analyze the board.Find a good program and follow it.

I found that program here http://www.chess.com/groups/home/nm-aww-rats-free-video-lessons

Most probably i don't have much chemistry with chess. Here is some advice to the first person who posted here. I think,you should stop playing chess for a while. Then come back here again with a better evaluation of the game.It takes time to get in shape,very much like learning a new skill.Hone it yourself to be a better player.

Play long games; sit on your mouse hand / moving hand, and when you´ve found what you think is the best move, look out of the window for 10 seconds and then look at his possible replies to your move. If it´s still good, play it!

I am very incostant, sometimes I play well a match and terribly the next one.

i envy you, sometimes i play terrible, the next day i play even worse. sometimes i lose and sometimes the others will win.

Here is the beginning of your problem " I play well and ...."

Focus on the positive and enjoy it. You made a breakthru Congrats! Now do more of it. Work to get a back to back game. Trust me it will come. When stuck stay with the fundamentals which reduce mistakes. Are you taking your time thinking out your moves? Are you watching what your opponent is planning and only focusing on your attacks?

At some point in time we all have bad games or even a bad week. I had a bad month a couple of times here. I may suggest not only keep playing well like you did in the games you won. Look for(practice) other ways to   win. It could be your getting a little bored or need new ways to attack.

Something different from the usual is what i needed as i had not lost with my new method and if i did it is new. When i went back to my other style of play i felt the pressure of winning so great. And started winning those games that i would have lost. Maybe it was because i had options during the game to attack my opponent.