Maybe watch some videos about chess tactics, games or whatnot. For example, I've found thechesswebsite's array of videos on Youtube have helped me a fair amount.
The 1300 Quag-mire
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I'm just starting to get back into chess after about 40 years away from the game. Back in the day, looking at a book or two was very helpful, but we didn't have computer engines or video lessons. Now there is Tactics Trainer, which is great, except that the premium on finding solutions quickly is only encouraging my bad habit of moving too fast. For similar reasons, I have always been scared to death of blitz.
Slower time controls, absolutely the best way to learn.
Some people find bullet chess exciting and standard chess boring, but I think it's completely the opposite. Sure it's exciting when it unfolds, but the real product -- the finished game -- is usually full of countless boring mistakes.
Learn to appreciate the slow-motion exitement of a long game. There will be many games in the sidelines -- moves you didn't play, but could have -- that you will see during the game. All of it is interesting, and all of it will increase your strength.
Thanks to everyone posting today! These contributions mean the world to me, and I hope other new player's can read some of these and improve their play as well.
Chris
Start playing longer time games, I play corrospondance and 15/10 mostly and 2/1 to warm up.
Id play a few 15/10 games with you id you would like a give some tips ( I posted here 5 mins ago but I cannnot see it...
I'm closing out my last online games. These are games that I started too fast. This weekend I will put to work all the great tips and suggestions offered to me, and hopefully receive the books I ordered too! This weekend I will make it a point to begin just a few online games and will concentrate carefully on what I have learned so far and where I need to go. Thanks everyone for all of your help.
One more thing. When you get back to playing cc, make sure you don't take on more games than you can handle. Many here have made that mistake (including myself) and it leads to moving too quickly (read: many mistakes).
TMIMITW wrote:
One more thing. When you get back to playing cc, make sure you don't take on more games than you can handle. Many here have made that mistake (including myself) and it leads to moving too quickly (read: many mistakes).
HAHA! I see you checked my games in progress! 
FAR too many, as I thought, of course, "I have 3 days in some cases; plenty of time!" I will keep it low. 2 more days before my self-imposed limit on speedchess. Can't promise I will stay totally clear of these games as I am now in the TEXTBOOK location for a major disappointment: the bullet rating is over 1300! 
Thanks TMIMITW!
Actually, no, I didn't look at your games. It's just an issue many here have had.
It goes like this. "Man, I have 10 games going, but nobody is moving! I'd better get more games!"
Then, one day you wake up or come home from work with many things to do, but you log on just to see who has moved, and, holy crap! You now have 15 minutes to make a move in 30 games!
Good luck.
TMIMITW wrote:
Actually, no, I didn't look at your games. It's just an issue many here have had.
It goes like this. "Man, I have 10 games going, but nobody is moving! I'd better get more games!"
Then, one day you wake up or come home from work with many things to do, but you log on just to see who has moved, and, holy crap! You now have 15 minutes to make a move in 30 games!
Good luck.
That's EXACTLY how it went! 
Thanks again!!
One more book recommendation..'Simple Chess' by Michael Stean.(Dover,algebraic edn.) I think this book helped me more than any other.I have played board 1 for Sheffield University Chess team,and I used to be rubbish at the game.Check it out.
3 weeks ago · Quote · #1
I am a new player (under 1 year of online chess) and 90% of my games are of the "lightning" variety. I believe that, being an untrained "piece mover" (there's another word for that I think but it was from a movie and I don't know if it's REALLY used) allows me to win against opponents in the <1300 range and occasionally defeat a stray 1500-1600 on a bad day (for them). I am hanging myself by admiting this but I would prefer some blunt advice from the good players to just using the same open, same tactics (which are only reactionary -- no plan going in), and riding this "1300 to 1200 to 1140 then back up" nightmare. Can anyone suggest a good book for a beginner who want's to break-out and become more than just a reactionary, fast piece mover? I just joined here as a paying member a few days ago and want to quickly add that I love it here.
Thanks!
Chris Saindon A.K.A. StormChaser
Lisle, IL. USA
__________________________________________________________________
I would prefer some blunt advice from the good players to just using the same open, same tactics
There are several reasons that strong players play 5 minute blitz chess:
1. To reinforce their opening repertoire visualization pattern memory bank
2. To sharpen their quick sight of their tactics visualization pattern memory bank
3. To sharpen their handling of the clock when in time pressure under standard time control rated tournament games.
4. To reinforce their middle game visualization pattern memory bank
5. To reinforce their endgame technique visualization pattern memory bank
At your rating you have not built any of those memory banks mentioned above and should be playing slower time controls. Quick sight of the board is for after you have built those memory banks.
Can anyone suggest a good book for a beginner who want's to break-out and become more than just a reactionary, fast piece mover?
Try a book titled, "How to Think Ahead In Chess", by I.A. Horowitz and Irving Chernev. You can buy it online amazon.com or barnes&Noble.com for a couple of bucks. It is ideal for a player at your present rating (1100-1300.) They explain in words, short move variations and lots of diagrams how to think ahead in chess step by step.
Good luck on becoming a stronger player, or as like to say it, "professional gunslinger."
Dalyup wrote:
Maybe watch some videos about chess tactics, games or whatnot. For example, I've found thechesswebsite's array of videos on Youtube have helped me a fair amount.
I am starting to now. Thanks!
ats1218 wrote:
I'm just starting to get back into chess after about 40 years away from the game. Back in the day, looking at a book or two was very helpful, but we didn't have computer engines or video lessons. Now there is Tactics Trainer, which is great, except that the premium on finding solutions quickly is only encouraging my bad habit of moving too fast. For similar reasons, I have always been scared to death of blitz.
I understand. And on some days I dont think I see the board at all, others I seem to see everything. It's like chess "tunnel-vision" some days for me and I hate it! Thanks for the reply -- I appreciate it
transpo wrote:
3 weeks ago · Quote · #1
I am a new player (under 1 year of online chess) and 90% of my games are of the "lightning" variety. I believe that, being an untrained "piece mover" (there's another word for that I think but it was from a movie and I don't know if it's REALLY used) allows me to win against opponents in the I would prefer some blunt advice from the good players to just using the same open, same tactics (which are only reactionary -- no plan going in), and riding this "1300 to 1200 to 1140 then back up" nightmare. Can anyone suggest a good book for a beginner who want's to break-out and become more than just a reactionary, fast piece mover? I just joined here as a paying member a few days ago and want to quickly add that I love it here.
Thanks!
Chris Saindon A.K.A. StormChaser
Lisle, IL. USA
__________________________________________________________________
I would prefer some blunt advice from the good players to just using the same open, same tactics
There are several reasons that strong players play 5 minute blitz chess:
1. To reinforce their opening repertoire visualization pattern memory bank
2. To sharpen their quick sight of their tactics visualization pattern memory bank
3. To sharpen their handling of the clock when in time pressure under standard time control rated tournament games.
4. To reinforce their middle game visualization pattern memory bank
5. To reinforce their endgame technique visualization pattern memory bank
At your rating you have not built any of those memory banks mentioned above and should be playing slower time controls. Quick sight of the board is for after you have built those memory banks.
Can anyone suggest a good book for a beginner who want's to break-out and become more than just a reactionary, fast piece mover?
Try a book titled, "How to Think Ahead In Chess", by I.A. Horowitz and Irving Chernev. You can buy it online amazon.com or barnes&Noble.com for a couple of bucks. It is ideal for a player at your present rating (1100-1300.) They explain in words, short move variations and lots of diagrams how to think ahead in chess step by step.
Good luck on becoming a stronger player, or as like to say it, "professional gunslinger."
Professional gunslinger -- I like it :) And thank you very much for the detailed reply my friend.
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Play most days but not for too long.Tactics Trainer is NOT brilliant but better than nothing.Enjoy your chess.Try chess960,it's my favourite pastime(correspondence only so far on chess.com).Don't buy too many books.Buy almost NO books.
It's a very interesting warning you gave me, and you're right. I was just WAITING and WAITING for :15 after the hour so that I could begin more exciting Lightning tournaments..but you are absolutely right..my play was getting more robotic, erratic and absolutely to the point of criminal sloppiness. It is SO fun and competitive to play those Lightning rounds -- I cannot deny that. And as far as books go, I have ordered those suggested to me in this forum, but I am about out of money for these kinds of purchases for awhile..and I need to pay for my next month on Chess.com
. Thanks pbeckett!