Process of Thinking

 Which side of the board am I attacking on & what's my plan to create a weakness?

If you cannot see a plan to create a weakness then how to improve my pieces on that side of the board, how do I improve my defence elsewhere?

Once I start to win on my side of the board then start to look for tactics.

But most games at our level are won on blunders so blunder checking your move & your opponents is probably the most important???

Thanks for this- seems like a great way of thinking. And yes, I agree, blunders are a big part of chess at our level. 

Is you OTB performance better or worse than online?

If your OTB is worse than online, then maybe this advice can help. I make a lot less blunders in OTB than online simply because I take longer to make my move in OTB (there's nothing to do if you finish a game early in OTB).  This helps me a lot in avoiding blunders and planning out the sequence of moves further.  In OTB, I'll pretend that I've made the move in my mind and run a quick check; then if my clock still have more time than opponent, I'd undo the move and think of other moves (I'd make the best move at the time if my clock reaches my opponent's or if I can't find a good move, I'll make the best I have ATM when my clock is -1 min from opponent's.)

Oh, BTW, the above only works if you are playing an adult.  Kids play OTB too fast.

First, you have to calculate any possible tactic: checkmate, check, checkmate threats, captures. You must check any possible threat of your opponent as well. Then, if there are no tactics, focus in strategy: improve pieces, control columns and diagonals, pawn structure, king safety, outposts, eliminate opponent best piece.  Follow this advise (I don´t, so I am still rated 1260 )

Thanks a lot. I enjoy playing longer time controls so this should help.

Thank you- tactics first, strategy later. I'll keep this in mind.

 There should be a main general way to think to play chess.  There are two sides that get to attack, and have to defend. You try things out before you commit and you get to know where you're at in a game.

"That still is not the general idea, but I'd say that that's involved?!"

Generally I try to think that "when you find a good move, look for a better one." Doesn't always happen, but it does help find potential tactics or weaknesses, blunder-check, etc.

1)Is there a weakness in the opponent's position. Remember, a weakness is a weakness only if it can be attacked.

2)Which is the opponent's most active piece? Exchange it. Which is the opponent's least active piece. Continue to Restrain it.

3)Is the position static or dynamic?

4)If the position is static, what is my strategy/plan. What is the configuration of pieces which will help me to exert maximum pressure.

5)If the position is dynamic, check all captures, all threats, all checks.

Thanks for reviving this thread and for all of your advice, guys!