How do you get better?

I am a horrible chess player. What should I do to get better? How do you guys do it? Please help me. Is they ANY way to dramaticallt change the way you play? Is the only way to get better by practice? PLEASE HELP!

If practice doesn't suit u, go do something else. The only way to get better at chess is to study and devote massive amount of time to the sport

Try out some of the facilities on this site:

• daily puzzles
• Tactics Trainer
• Chess Mentor
• Computer Workout
• Video Lessons
• join a group that encourages learners
• play training games (e.g. using Takeback mode)
• find helpful opponents
• get some coaching
• analyse your games
• play slower (turn-based) games in addition to LiveChess
• ...

or throw the computer out of the window... guarantee you will feel much better !

 i bet that would help! to all of the commenters, for some reason i keep hearing memorization! study! what if i just want chess as a hobby not a sport?

ok keep the chess, if is it just gonna be a hobby. Just enjoy the games learn a little bit in a time, study it if you feel like it. Don't try to memorizes it it won't work if you are only learning. Got some books ? if not, go to library. Just take your time when making move.(can't do that in live-chess) Post your games to the Analysis's forum if you feel you are stuck somewhere in the game.

Then read (chess) books. Some of the old russian classical books are fun to read, you learn a lot from the history of chess and how player think and what exactly was the ideas of the players. And on top of that you learn about chess.

• daily puzzles so you can understand and see how/why is work to get checkmate
• Tactics Trainer patterns recognition (sp.?) very good to look out for them.
• Chess Mentor
• Computer Workout
• Video Lessons top three (above) on the list is just like homework to do.
• join a group that encourages learners good idea.
• play training games (e.g. using Takeback mode)
• find helpful opponents meaning find a higher rated players than you is helpful
• get some coaching if you got the $$$
• analyse your games
• play slower (turn-based) games in addition to LiveChess
• these are very good points from artfizz.

Thank You. I understand how I should learn now.

after a game I go back and try to find all the places things started to go bad for me and make note of it..When I play new games I try to avoid making the same mistakes...If you never go back a look at your old games you'll keep making the same mistakes..

Tiff

Getting a membership helps. It will give you more access to the training tools at the site. Also the more you practice the better youll be. Computer analysis every game you play to see where your mistakes were made. I practice / play about 6-8 hours a day, my job gives me alot of spare time. Ive only been playing for 4 or 5 months,but ive come soooooo far by practicing and useing the training tools that are here.