My game is too reactionary, any tips for improving strategy?

I'm studying the beginner articles, videos, trainer, and mentor as well as playing live and computer games. However, I feel I'm missing something fundamental.

I don't make my first few moves with any strategy except developing my pieces. Once I see how my opponent is playing I begin to make very beginner type strategies, e.g. I will try to get my pieces to this side so I can attack through his open file.

It is always the case, though, that my plan is interrupted and I must go on the defensive or retreat; this is where it becomes almost purely reactionary. Any suggestions for practicing? What are some examples of your thought processes when playing? Is chess a lot of memorization or just mostly probability?

If you're too reactionary, there are a few things:

Is their threat really dangerous? Can you just ignore it, and make a bigger threat yourself? Does their threat fail to a tactic you have?

Sometimes you can stop their threats before they happen, maybe cutting off an advanced square for their knight.

Strategy is normally based around the pawn structure http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawn_structure , I can't say I understand these in much detail, but I try to get rooks to open files, pieces on their best squares etc so probably do follow a lot of the plans.

Chess is a lot of memorisation yes. For example when solving puzzles there are mating nets I just know and recognise rather than having to work out, or endgames I know how to win without thinking up a plan or working out variations.

Great suggestions all. Thank you very much! I will try to keep it all in mind while practicing.

I know that as a beginner, trying to study (opening moves, for example) can be very frustrating. You could try to learn say, the queen's gambit, but if your opponent doesn't follow that opening, it immediately becomes a game of improvisation (for you). This is why I try to play more than read books. I am trying to build up "instinct". To me, this seems to be important for a beginne. Its the most important thing I feel as though I have right now..

IMO....

You're absolutely right. These help so much.

Are you sure about that? I heard Nunn's was advanced, while Chernov's, which is under the same or similar title was for beginners and up.

Thanks much for all the comments so far. I will take them all into consideration!

Try to stick to the same opening as white and defense as black in most of your games (try to find 1-2 for each color that suit you in 1. e4, 1. d4 and 1. c4 games), even if you lose a few games playing it.

Then you will develop the sense of responding adequately to "but what if my opponent plays this?".

If you think your strength is, say, endgames, try to choose openings and defenses that often lead to specific endgame types.

If you wish to avoid endgames, select different openings (although, you can't avoid endgames altogether, since many games will inevitably lead to endgames).

From what I can tell, openings come down to the work you put in before the game, endgames are about how well you can calculate/recognise winning lines/setups, and middlegame is not really something you can practice - it comes to natural talent for positional/dynamic play and playing experience.

Make sure to always review your games, whether you win or lose to see where you or your opponent went wrong. You will remember that wrong move and the position for a long time.

It's important to review your wins as well because, as a beginner, you will play many opponents who won't even notice your mistake to punish you, whereas someone stronger later on might.