I don't know why you even went against someone that level. I just want to say, relax... Mental focus is also a huge impact on the game. If you start worrying about it you're not going to get very far. Only reason I say this is because I've experienced it myself. My biggest advice is to watch YouTube videos in the mean time. It seems like you're not a complete beginner, but still have a lot to learn. All it takes is about ten minutes to learn something new. Take that time to relax and take a break if needed. I really don't consider that cheating unless you search the moves to beat him.
Why I Love Chess
Sort:
edited , sorry didnt know the game was in progress. It's going to be even harder than it already is if you tell yourself that lol be positive, at your level study basic mates, tactics (chesstempo.com) and opening principles (not openings in specific) . I was stuck at that point before and got through in around 1 month of pretty casual study once i put my mind to it and was consistently studying .
Chess is one of the few things that is so over my head I feel like I cannot hope to comprehend it all.
Calculus? Pssssssshh.
General Relativity? I got the gist of it when I was in the fifth grade.
BUT GODD*MN CHESS? MOTHER FUDGING CHESS? THIS BREATHTAKINGLY DEVILISH GAME?
My mind explodes after the first two moves. I'm in a tourney right now and I'm literally shivering at my knees playing this 1700 elo chap. Thank god they allow you 1 day per move ;_;. I feel like I want to resign each of my games just based off of the awful positioning I have along with the fact that I have NO idea what the hell is happening.
Not that I don't understand the rules or something, it's just, I look at this, and I have no idea what to do. I... I feel like every move would be completely passive. I understand that tactics aren't all there is to this game. I develop my pieces, castle my king, eat my vegetables, etc, without the short term focus of winning material. But nevertheless, I look at every available move and think: All of these are minimally strategic, and don't even come close to winning me any material. And then I shudder, because this man is 1700 elo! If I don't have a good move, WHAT IS HE GOING TO PLAY?! HE'S PROBABLY SET THIS UP FROM THE BEGINNING!
Rocking it at 900 elo, its safe to say that I'm going to be studying this game for a long, long, ime.