Improving my game

I've been playing chess for a little more than a year, exclusively online. I'm hovering at 1050 on standard chess and 675-700 blitz. What is the best/fastest way to improve from here? I want to feel like I'm continuing to learn. Thanks. 

Tactic Trainer should help

I suggest chess mentor as well. it isn't as fun as tt but if you pay attention to chess mentor you learn a lot.

You have a platinum membership, so I'd begin with lots of Tactics Trainer puzzles (about 10-20 a day).

But two features here that you have unlimited access to are Game Explorer and Computer Workout (both under the "Learn" tab). In Explorer you can choose any opening move you like for white, and then choose from the menu for black, etc. until you get to a position that looks interesting or that mirrors your own games, and then you can have the computer call up dozens or hundreds of master games that were played from that position. A great way to study whole games.

In Workout, you choose a position to play against the computer--say a two-bishop mate--and do your best to win it. The computer will offer advice and will suggest the best move if you're stuck. This is a fine feature that will let you perfect your skills in a huge number of endgames.

Resign when you're losing badly so that you don't waste your time learning nothing about the game. Start a new game instead, that way people will insult you less too, and rightfully so. As you improve you will have less and less use for the skill of being good when already crushed - you could play perfectly and you'll still lose.

Even if he has never deleted his TT history he already averages 10 puzzles per day for the last 21 months, which apparently is "a little more than" a year...

I advise chessmaster:grandmaster software, or chess mentor / tactic trainer on this site should help you get better. Often times it's about new insights you need to learn before you get better.

Thanks to all. I guess 21 months is pushing two years. Time flies when you're having fun. I do lots of TT, as noted, but I'll follow some of this other advice. It's not easy to learn new tricks when you're an old dog.

There's a whole series of tiered lessons available here at Chess.com, including openings, strategy, Endgames, etc. From beginner to master. You should check those out. In order to overall improve you need to gradually improve in every area, not just tactics.

As a beginner you are going to want to have a Plan which can help you improve your game.

I created a very easy to read guide on how you can begin to think about a chess plan.

Link below:

http://www.chess.com/blog/X_PLAYER_J_X/chess-plan-for-beginners

If you are really really a true beginner you will want to know some of the simple things about chess. Such as how much each piece is worth. What there value is etc.

Link below:

http://www.chess.com/blog/X_PLAYER_J_X/chess-piece-relative-value

You may even consider trying to get yourself started on playing a few lines or trying to get a small repertoire so to speak. Something which can get you started in your learning process.

Link below:

http://www.chess.com/blog/X_PLAYER_J_X/chess-repertoire

Hopefully this can help you.

He isn't a beginner. He has played 2.5k games of chess, the same amount that I estimate I have approximately played myself.

He is considered a beginner because his ranking is of a beginner.

It doesn't matter if he plays 1 game or 100k games.

Playing 2.5k games does not make him an expert if his ranking as not changed above beginner.

He could of playing all of those 2.5k games wrongly. They also could of had a major impact on his game progression.

Getting him into a mind set of learning/sticking with bad habits. Which will hurt him long term in his chess progression.

Perhaps you should look up a word before committing to an argument about its definition? Beginner - "A person just starting to learn a skill or take part in an activity.".

Try not to be so wrong and so ignorant all the time, will you Player? I see you saying this crap all over the forums. All the time...

Chess.com also need to drastically change the formating options available for these posts.

What skill has he learned if his ranking is the same?

He is still considered a beginner because he is still just starting to learn a skill.

He hasn't learned it yet.

If his ranking is the same as who/what/when?? Just how stupid are you? If you think that he was the standard he is now when he started you truely are retarded.

If somebody has been playing piano for 2 years, they would easily be a beginner pianist.

On the other hand, maybe if they were very good, they could be intermediate by that point.

I don't see how X_Player is so wrong here.

When you start off at chess you start off in provisional ranking which is 1200.

I am not retarded. I am just telling you we are all considered beginners. Even I am considered a beginner.

We are not masters of anything.

WE DO NOT HAVE A TITLE.

Which means we are all beginners.

We are just different level of beginners thats all.

He is so wrong because the OP is retired and has spent most of everyday for the past two years playing chess!! To use your analogy, anybody having spent the same amount of time playing the pianno would clearly also not be considered a beginner by definition!

Tactics...tactics...tactics...

Take advantage ofthe chess mentor tool

Analzye your games, and then post them for peer review

I have quoted the definition of beginner for you once. I will not do it again. If you're so stupid that you can't understand that everybody who isn't a master isn't a beginner then you are beyond my help.