Improving from 1500 rating

Hi Guys,

I was stuck on 1200-1300 for a long time.
I solved a lot of tactics problems. I also tried to learn kings gambit and queens gambit opening. Knowing a few more openings and practicing tactics helped me reach 1500 rating.

How should i proceed from here so i can continue improving?
It's very hard to learn new openings because i'm always afraid to use them in rated games because i don't know them well.. 

I still sometimes make a big blunder in the 10 minute games. But it's usually once every 7 games or so.

Do you still work through tactics problems every day. How much time do you spend everyday on tactics?

I play lots of OTB (Over the board chess) and I just recently broke into the 1600's.  I studied openings about 85% of the time, and then tactics.  I don't just memorize lines either,  I learn the strategy behind the openings.  (for example, in the french, trade lightsquared bishops, play for f6/c5 etc)  and It helped a lot.  I was no longer suffered form "now what?" in the middle of a "boring" game as I always had a plan.  hope this helps!!

"Every now and then someone advances the idea that one may gain success in chess by using shortcuts. 'Chess is 99% tactics' - proclaims one expert, suggesting that strategic understanding is overrated; 'Improvement in chess is all about opening knowledge' - declares another. A third self-appointed authority asserts that a thorough knowledge of endings is the key to becoming a master; while his expert-friend is puzzled by the mere thought that a player can achieve anything at all without championing pawn structures.

To me, such statements seem futile. You can't hope to gain mastery of any subject by specializing in only parts of it. A complete player must master a complete game ..." - FM Amatzia Avni (2008)

Join a chess club. You're already at a level where you won't be the weakest player there by any stretch. That way you can learn from stronger humans face-to-face which has got to be the best way.

You've hit the first plateau by the way. 1500 is the first place a lot of people level out in my experience. If you can bust it, and I'm sure you will if you work at it, then the next one is 1900.

I agree with people who advice to join a club and play OTB as much as possible. About study, I think dedicate more time to endgames and analysis of own games (especially losses, without engines at first) is a good idea.

I lose midlegame and dont even have a chance to play endgame :)

Hi. I am puzzled by people saying , what to do, im stuck at 1200 or 1400 etc.

I mean what exacly you do? Do you know anything about chess at all? Only basic tactics? Chess is full of stuff waiting for you to learn. Chesscom is full of training material. Youtube is full of chess lessons. Free. Free videos of Masters sometimes GrandMasters (GM Eric Hansen) playing chess. Watch and learn. Plenty of books. Just search threads here.

I mean i am 1700-1800 and i still feel i know nothing. And i haven't study a lot at all. I dont know things 1400 know and still i am 400 points higher by just observing others play via videos and experience. Best way to gain experience and quick opening practice or endgame patterns is bullet and blitz. Beginners should play only bullet or blitz but with correct ideas learned by watching videos by John youtube, Kings Crusher, Chess Network they are all masters. Its pointless for 1300 rated to play and waste time in longer time controls. Why? Becouse he is beginner, he cant calculate enough and spent 2-4 hours. He still bluunder a lot. Experience is the key and fast games is the way. Looked at me. All my chess life 2-3 yers i played bullet only and just this year longer time controls.

I have not played single OTB game or a game longer in 15/10 (maybe 2)

I saw your stats. You are only above 1500 from 5 days...  So you cant say you reached maximum or that you are true above 1500.

Try to play OTB chess. A good first step is to join a chess club.