I would say start using the tactics trainer on this site---turn off the tactics clock so that you don't have to hurry---set the lowest level tactics at 600-650 or so because it sounds like you need very basic tactics---I think you find the tactics editor under "home" and then "account". MAYBE that will help---maybe, maybe, maybe; it shouldn't hurt your skill level.
GOOD LUCK!
Just thinking...
Look for several candidate moves
Did your opponent make a threat with his last move. How does the game look for him?
Play a lot of games
This has nothing to do with tactics or strategy or concentration.
This is just confidence.
Just get more confidence by playing more games. If you keep at chess this problem will dissapear. Grandmasters don't get this because they have played chess for years and have played tens of thousands of games and are very comfortable at the chess board.
The chess board is still new to you. I have been playing chess for a year and a half and still get this, though not as much as I once did.
You have to find your own pregame routine to fix your confidence and concentration. It doesn't really matter how good you are at tactics if you are scared of the chessboard and always wonder what's going to happen next.
I'd recommend playing a couple games against Computer1-EASY. The computer is programmed to play some pretty bad moves of its own, but if you drop a piece it will almost certainly take it, and if you allow a forced mate it will always find it. Overall it's pretty consistent at punishing obvious errors. In addition, if you play solidly and manage to capitalize on one or two of the computer's errors, you will probably win the game, so it's a great confidence (and rating) booster.
I don't know--I have 1000 games and don't know if that is a lot or not. I know I still go on stupid streaks. Just not seeing me put a queen right in line with a bishop--or the opponent moves a pawn and now my queen is right in line with a bishop. I don't have what I would call a "global mind." I would be a terrible colonel trying to organize an attack on a global map. Maybe it is the same in chess. Been playing over a year and last 5 games I decided to just give away my queen--again and again. It's like I just don't see it--on 60 minute games. Anybody else have this problem?
1) Play more chess. A big part of chess is calculations, instinct, confidence. Pretty much pattern recognition. Think it like any other game, it takes time.
2) Do some training, try solving puzzles. Not only puzzles that are M1 or M3. Try puzzles with calculations, how to improve your position, defend etc. Billion of chess puzzles out there, free, paid, online, book. Find the one you like. Be sure tho that the puzzles have some valid feedback, to understand the solution and why it is right.
3) Minimize your opening repertoire. You will find a lot of people arguing about the one opening being better, or the other being better, people that will clown you and make memes about London, Caro-Kann, French and whatever. Don't listen. Pick 3 openings. One with white. One with black as answer to (being the most played move) and one other with black to defend at or something else. I do London, Caro-Kann and King Indian. Is it a good repertoire? I don't know. But it helps me build solid confidense that I know what I am doing. Is it a good repertoire for a GM? Hell no. But I'm not a GM, I'm a 1000 elo player with a peak of 1350. Choose openings that compliment your playstyle and your mindset. Repeat those opening. Study theory. It will sharpen your pattern recognition skills. Game after game you will see improvement.
4) That goes together with 3. Study your mistakes. By making your opening repertoire as small as possible, the positions you will reach each game will look the same each time. Do a mistake, study it, learn from it, don't repeat it. You just got better.
5) GET WINS. Sometimes you are on a losing streak. We all have been there. Try to be calm. 3 defeats in a row is your safety. Stop playing chess, today is not your day and you ain't gonna fix it by playing more. You will only get angry and more impatient and you will lose more games. If you still want to play after 3 losses. Do it against bots. Work your way from low rating up to the highest you can succesfully challenge. Get wins. Build your confidence. Then come the next day and play. With a clear mind. Raising your elo and getting better at chess is a LONG road, remember that, and enjoy every step.
Now on the most basic:
Look for Check-Capture-Attack (its a common method to analyse a position at a starting level and help you choose your next move minimizing blunders). How that works:
a) Check what Check-Capture-Attacks your opponent has
b) Chech the same for you
c) Choose what you will do. Attack or react to your opponents attack.
d) Before making the move check what Check-Capture-Attacks your move will give to the opponent. For example, moving a pawn to attack the Queen is nice. But maybe that pawn was the only support of a knight, which now the Queen takes for free.
Try to find opponent best reaction to your move. To do so playing on long time managements will help. Minimum 10 minutes. More if you feel 10 is not enough.
First step - leave this godforsaken site. Big Chess doesn't want you to get better, let's be real here.
I just started playing chess and I noticed that I always move pieces that I regret moving right after. Like, I will move a piece and then the instant I release the mouse button I have an "oh shit" moment and realize I just made defenses vulnerable, or that there was a much much better option. It's always right after I move it that I realize how dumb it was, I don't see it ahead of time. It happens a lot and I just lost a game that I was winning because I accidentally compromised my defense with a single bad move. Is here a way to overcome this? Thanks