Once you reach a certain level, the opening principles like controlling the centre should be drilled into your brain. After that, you'll have to look into more advanced concepts like preventing isolated pawns, preventing weak squares, creating outposts, etc. Here's a video on concepts like these, it helped me a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYtXMJjqfvw
nope, you're normal.
there's a GM sitting somewhere saying " I hate this stupid game. I'm done!"
keep studying, keep playing, and keep learning.
there's some weird idea that if you get good enough you're never supposed to lose again. or miraculously you know everything! not true.
if you love the game, take the good with the bad and keep improving.
Keep practicing sound chess theory and eventually you'll get there.
As Malcolm Gladwell put it "the key to achieving true expertise in any skill is simply a matter of practicing, albeit in the correct way, for at least 10,000 hours."
Also, it might help to pick a chess GM as a hero and try to emulate them in your style and play.
I imagine that when we are playing at our best we may be upwards of a few hundred of points higher than we are currently at. I found that my rating seriously suffers if I am playing tired or not mentally in the right mindset, among other things.
Maybe look at the circumstances when you play at your best and try to recreate that, or avoid playing when you cannot.
Avoid impulsive moves and take the time to consider your options.
🗿
You have to think like hunter
Thank you all for your responses. I am taking your advice into consideration.
Another question. Is my highest single played game ELO a good representation of my potential?
Another question. Is my highest single played game ELO a good representation of my potential?
it could be but it is not really something to be concerned about. your main concern is, if you really want to be a quality student of the game, then be a quality student of the game.
That's exactly what you should be doing at your level. Study tactics, at your level close to 100% of your losses are because of tactics. Blunder-check each move, which involves playing at least 10mn, 15|10 being the best. And lastly, know ONE opening perfectly. You also need to know how to play the middlegame that follows your opening.
It is okay. I know the game is harsh because it is made this way. I am a fellow beginner too. Every time I made a blunder, I want to hit my head to the wall. But every time I won, it is very satisfactory. This game is the literal meaning of "I love to hate it".
The way I think about the game is this. The two centre squares are the most important squares in the game, and I want to advance my entire piece set much like an army. I try to build into the centre in an arrow like fashion, and then try to gain a material advantage. If the centre is cluttered I might sacrifice a piece to open up space. If I have an option to take away from the centre or towards I always take towards the centre. I also look for forks and pins, while advancing pawns as far as possible while defended in hopes of advancement. Do i need a coach? Where am I going wrong?