I second everything Artfizz said in #2. Play Online chess instead of Live chess and use the extra time wisely to assess the board thoroughly before you move. Test every piece to ensure it's not about to be lost to your opponent cheaply. Watch out for obvious tactical plays (forks, skewers, etc.) And you should find your play will improve.
How to improve at chess?
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I consider myself a novice but here are a couple of suggestions that worked for me....so far.
1.Maimtain your pawn structure and try to avoid having isolated pawns.
2.Bishops can be deadly to an opponant, Find ways to use these in the long diagonal.
3.Sometimes I use my opponants blocked pawn to protect my king from a discovered check. So be carefull. Don't just grab pawns for materials sake.
4, Chess can be like a poker game. Try to obscure your intentions when attacking your opponant.
Paulgottlieb's rating speaks for himself. HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING. I learned ALOT by scrutinzing my own games. I still find myself making SILLY errors. I started in 2007 and WAS HORRIBLE. But i was tenacious and determined to improve. U show those qualities so KEEP PLAYING. Have fun and keep an open mind to everything. Even when ur being destroyed.
I would also thoroughly recommend trying out the Chess Mentor section of the website. Gave the free trial a go last night, and learned more in 20 minutes than in my entire life! It is very user friendly, and gives you a synopsis of the board together with handy hints (that you do not have to uncover if you don't want to). It also tracks your performance in various areas too, so this should give a real sense of achievement as you gradually improve. I will definitely be upgrading to that membership, as it is a great feeling when you make the 'correct move' first time 
sheardp wrote:
You play a truly dreadful game of chess. I do not think there are many people at your level. You will just have to up your game a bit. Try not to leave your pieces en prise. That is always a good plan.
Thank you for your kind words!
Wasabi65 wrote:
sheardp wrote:
You play a truly dreadful game of chess. I do not think there are many people at your level. You will just have to up your game a bit. Try not to leave your pieces en prise. That is always a good plan.
Thank you for your kind words!
Talk about not 'sugar coating' your feedback - good job I haven't played any live games yet!
I'm in the same boat as you. Mid-forties, played off and on my whole life, never really got beyond 1600. Recently though I did break 1800.
It took alot more study than I thought it would to put on even 200 points. I've read probably 15-20 chess books in the last couple years and played about 700 games online. (I like to play 15 0 at fics or chesscube.)
The things that helped me the most were: tactics puzzles at chesstempo.com (i like to work the easier puzzles looking for a high solution rate), several endgame books, several basic positional play books, and reading over a ton of master games (especially the old-timers like Capa, Lasker, Nimzovich, Rubinstein and many many others).
IMO it's alot harder to improve than people think. Chess is a deep game. But if you are willing to put some time into it and make intelligent choices about what you study, there's no reason you can't move up a class or two.
Oh, and as far as board vision, seeing the possibilities and not making blunders, Polgar's Chess has really helped me alot. It's endless practice considering all possible moves and looking at least a move ahead. I highly recommend it for improving your board vision.
Of course it's easy to say don't blunder, but how can you prevent what you don't even see? And it's true that having a formal thought process will prevent blunders, but for me that takes alot of fun out of the game. Polgar will definitely help with all that stuff.
Sep 11, 2011
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#30
I see that you do have a diamond membership! I think thats great, but you should check out for free 30 days www.ChessMagnetSchool.com they start you at your level and it the most inexpensive training I have ever come across! And it works!
Sep 11, 2011
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#31
paulgottlieb wrote:
Of course the tactics trainer will help, and there are a lot of good books for beginners, but I don't think any of these suggestions actually address Wasabi65's problem. He's not losing because he doesn't know how to execute a smothered mate, or a knight fork, he's losing because he doesn't really look at the board! His opponent attacks a piece, and he just ignores it. We're talking about one-move threats. The only cure is a change in attitude. You have to make yourself look at your opponent's move and see what it threatens, and you have to do it every time! In a short time, this scan for threats becomes a habit, but you have to train yourself to do it.
Progress in chess is impossible until he masters this first step, and it doesn't require any special training
Maybe the idea is that when you're trying puzzles you have to solve them like your life is at stake so to speak.
We all have to start somewhere and I know in my case I wanted to play well and realised I am pretty average when compared to some of the guys on this site.
I am organizing some theme tournaments which are themed to specific openings, and these are all 1350 or below to give players like yourself a way to develop your understanding of some of the 'basic' openings.
the links are:
Theme Tournament : C30 King's Gambit
http://www.chess.com/tournament/theme-tournament--c30-kings-gambit
Theme Tournament : D06 Queen's Gambit
http://www.chess.com/tournament/theme-tournament--d06-queens-gambit
Theme Tournament : B20 Sicillian Defense
http://www.chess.com/tournament/theme-tournament--b20-sicillian-defense
Theme Tournament : C44: King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation
http://www.chess.com/tournament/theme-tournament--c44-kings-knight-opening-normal-variation
Perhaps a good idea would be to enter 1, 2, 3, or all 4 of these tournaments to help gain an understanding of them as I believe that if you can master a few openings and the principles behind them you will find yourself in a stronger position as the opening leads to the middle and end game.
I hope this helps.
Dec 27, 2011
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#33
@OP : play longer games so that you have plenty of time to think on your moves and follow paulgottlieb's excellent advice
Join the club. (Get it? Join the club of "why am I so rubbish at chess?" and join a real chess club.) No really though. Join a chess club. It's inspiring and stronger players there are often willing to help.
I'll do it.
i try to develop, and at the same time keep out of reach of opponent. Usually opponent would try to probe defence, but then just develop systematically, and balance attack and defence. Look for holes in opponents defence, and then think of any tactical line. A good chess player, must have a reason for each move. It must have a few reasons, why you think that this is the best move, building a platform of either defence or attack:) If it make sense. I am not the best player. I'm good because i have lost so many times:)
@wasabi
I'd start with changing your nickname to something more intimidating. As things stand now, your opponents will try every trick in the book to win against a vegetable.