I am in 8th grade. I want to improve my strategizing skills by playing chess. However, I am extremely new to chess, and I have only played 5 chess games in my entire life. I have lost every single chess game I've played. (In other words, I suck at chess.) Is it too late for me to become a good chess player? (I don't plan to become a chess master like Bobby Fisher or Garry Kasparov, but I still want a decent 1500ish rating.) I'm a slow thinker so bullet chess is not suitable for me. By the way, what's a good chess rating for somebody who plans to play chess as an occasional, leisurely activity (2-3 hours a week) but wants to become a good strategist?

I have one final question: Is it too late for me to become a good chess player?

Yup.Go AND study.

Um... Just one problem. I cannot find any good chess players in or near my town.

Get a beginners book.  Read it. Play. Enjoy it.

Do tactics. Get some more books. Read them. Play. Enjoy it.

You sound contradictory. As though you're saying it's too late for me to become a good chess player, even though you're giving me advice for becoming a good chess player.

I don't mean to be rude, but I'm just confused by your post.

alligator51, play on chess.com! I would suggest for you maybe 10 minutes per game, they aren't taking 5 hours out of your day, but they aren't like bullet thinking....also study chess books. I used to be terrible, just over a year ago i was about 1300, i probably have put 1000 hours into chess since then, now i am almost breaking 2000!! (also 1500 is easy if you have a sharper mind and a couple hundred hours to spare, not to put you off of it, but it takes a lot of work.

I like making people confuse.

youtube:

Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis

Specifically the seirrawan lectures for novice/ kids and dont feel offended that the lectures are for kids, they are AWESOME to improve at chess. Seirrawan is one of the most accredited chess coach worldwide so he know what he's doing and his also veryy fun to listen.

The same channel have also other playlists of othe titled players. Finegold to mention just one ( he also have a lot of videos here in chess.com)

There are plenty of people who start older than you

I am a 1500(real life working on it here) now but I started in 4th

That is late is you want to be 2600 ish but anyone can make it to 1500 It takes work but can happen

It is never too late to become a master.hi i am also in 8 grade so you can quickly get to atleast 1100 by improving your thought process like checking every piece is protected.The quickest way to improve is by tactis and you dont need to study anything to become a 1500.You just have to be agood tactician looking for both yours and your opponents threats.A good site to practice tactis is chess.com.So dont get discouraged and fire up your way to that 1500 rating

Learn the game at 10 years old, and reach your peak playing strength by 20 years old.

Unless you decide to have a life instead.  

stupid post

I don't care about a 2600 rating. When I grow up, I'm not gonna be a chess player. (Instead, I will most likely be a scientist or engineer.) The only reason for me to play chess as an adult is to improve my strategizing. (It actually takes some serious strategizing to be an engineer.)

At your level 1500s seem godlike, but if you're diligent and committed to a proper study routine then the 1500s (FIDE standard) will seem like jokes within a year. 

 Work on basic endgames, tactics, positional elements, opening principles and a thinking system.