Respectfully, I don't get your pessimism. 4 months isn't a long time at all, and you've made good progress! I'm not really experienced enough to give you meaningful chess advice, but perhaps trying to get some books? Or a trainer? Also I might suggest trying to not focus on your rating so much and just try to enjoy playing. And if you're really not enjoying your chess right now, maybe a short break might help.
Stuck at 950-1000 rating
Sort:
i would suggest playing longer games
at least 15/10 if not longer
play every move with as much focus as you can and when it is over go over the game with as much effort (if not more) to see where you slipped up
continue practicing tactics daily
10 minutes is just too short to actually improve past one’s comfort level/ability
at least 15/10 if not longer
play every move with as much focus as you can and when it is over go over the game with as much effort (if not more) to see where you slipped up
continue practicing tactics daily
10 minutes is just too short to actually improve past one’s comfort level/ability
(for example- look at ...4 vs khaledmoosa)
I looked at your last 10 games. Here's my impression. I really like the way you play your opening. You just develop your pieces and usually that's enough to have a better position already. I would urge you to play the queen a little later, cause sometimes you've developed the queen a bit too early. Maybe something to watch out for.
The main thing that I see happening in almost all of your games is that you try and be too fancy with your tactics. Not every game has a winning combination. The problem is, when you do go for these tactics, you're giving away pieces everywhere. Examples: your game vs Helmhold, where Ng1 just gives away a rook on f5. Rf6 would have been winning. You had some fancy tactics in that game, but they initially worked out for you. The game vs BerthaDongus: you're up a queen but then, instead of retreating, you sacrifice on f7. The game vs NelsonRB14, you play Bh3. You're up a piece there and can take a pawn on h6 with an easily winning position, but you choose the fancy line. In fact your opponent could have taken (Rd3 fails to Qf4+). In the game vs Zych you also have a very promising position when you choose to sacrifice a piece on d5. Now it might be an interesting sacrifice and it's not of the same level of mistake as some of your other moves, but it proves the pattern. In an overwhelming position I'd be tempted to increase the advantage without sacrificing a piece.
The other thing that I see is that you do drop pieces with 1 move blunders. Taking pieces that are defended etc. We need to be honest, if you do that you'll lose games. I saw one or two moves that were played very fast, so it might be that you blundered there because of playing too fast. You can fix this and with time you'll get better and better at not blundering.
All in all, I think you play a strong game. Certain aspects of your game are better than I would expect from a 1000 player. So you can improve, but you do need to limit your self-inflicted errors. My advice to you would be to try and play more simple moves. Just because you see a fancy tactical move, doesn't mean that you need to play it. A strong player will always be wary of too many tactical complications in a position that is much better for them, because there's always a risk with tactics that you miss something. If the easy move wins without problems, that's practically the better move.
Improving Your Chess - Resources for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/improving-your-chess-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
RAU4ever wrote:
I looked at your last 10 games. Here's my impression. I really like the way you play your opening. You just develop your pieces and usually that's enough to have a better position already. I would urge you to play the queen a little later, cause sometimes you've developed the queen a bit too early. Maybe something to watch out for.
The main thing that I see happening in almost all of your games is that you try and be too fancy with your tactics. Not every game has a winning combination. The problem is, when you do go for these tactics, you're giving away pieces everywhere. Examples: your game vs Helmhold, where Ng1 just gives away a rook on f5. Rf6 would have been winning. You had some fancy tactics in that game, but they initially worked out for you. The game vs BerthaDongus: you're up a queen but then, instead of retreating, you sacrifice on f7. The game vs NelsonRB14, you play Bh3. You're up a piece there and can take a pawn on h6 with an easily winning position, but you choose the fancy line. In fact your opponent could have taken (Rd3 fails to Qf4+). In the game vs Zych you also have a very promising position when you choose to sacrifice a piece on d5. Now it might be an interesting sacrifice and it's not of the same level of mistake as some of your other moves, but it proves the pattern. In an overwhelming position I'd be tempted to increase the advantage without sacrificing a piece.
The other thing that I see is that you do drop pieces with 1 move blunders. Taking pieces that are defended etc. We need to be honest, if you do that you'll lose games. I saw one or two moves that were played very fast, so it might be that you blundered there because of playing too fast. You can fix this and with time you'll get better and better at not blundering.
All in all, I think you play a strong game. Certain aspects of your game are better than I would expect from a 1000 player. So you can improve, but you do need to limit your self-inflicted errors. My advice to you would be to try and play more simple moves. Just because you see a fancy tactical move, doesn't mean that you need to play it. A strong player will always be wary of too many tactical complications in a position that is much better for them, because there's always a risk with tactics that you miss something. If the easy move wins without problems, that's practically the better move.
Thank you so much for checking out my games. I will certainly keep this in mind in my future games. Big thanks.
Play 15|10 time control and use all the time. Whenever you lose a game, stop and analyse it to learn from your mistake.
Do a blunder check before you make your move.
Nov 29, 2021
0
#10
I'm guessing you still hang pieces. You won't fix that playing short time controls. I've never understood the appeal of them, frankly. Aim to overprotect your pieces, solve puzzles, stop missing your chances and blundering and you'll improve a lot, I'm guessing. Four months is baby steps territory though, I wonder what you expected? And at 30 you're barely a grown-up. If your impulse control doesn't show significant improvement soon, I'd be surprised! Are you some gifted enfant terrible genius in other aspects of your life? Lol.
Nov 29, 2021
0
#11
Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a respected chess coach and chess YouTuber based in California:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP5SPSG_sWSYPjqJYMNwL_Q
Here’s some ideas to help you get better.
-If you are serious about chess, I highly recommend you hiring a chess coach to help you.
-Also consider all checks and captures on your side and also your opponent’s side. Always as, “If I move here, where is my opponent going to move?”. Do this for every single move!
-Play with a slow time control, such as G/30 so you have plenty of time to think before every move.
I also offer 500 two-choice puzzles on my website: https://www.chessbylauren.com/two-choice-puzzles.php
I hope that this helps.
I definitely can relate. I started out on chess.com 5 years ago with a rating of 1200 (before playing any games), and I went all the way down to below 500. From the time when I started on chess.com, it took me about 2 and a half years to get above 1000, but after that, I stayed there pretty consistently. My rating now is usually staying above 1200, and I feel like I have gotten better this year. I've also been playing more the last several months.
Of course, during this time, I have gone sometimes several months straight without playing any chess (even tactics). I have a busy life! 
But the important thing is that I have kept playing chess. I may never be a master, but I'm okay with that. I have other interests besides chess.
I think you need to decide what goals you have for chess. You certainly can and will get better if you play every day, even if that's just one game. I have never played chess every day (on chess.com, in person, or a combination) for even one month at any time in my life. And I'm okay with that! If you decide that you really want to get better more quickly, just keep playing! You are bound to get better before you know it.
I have one piece of practical advice: when you are playing a game and your opponent plays an opening you have never seen before, take a deep breath. You don't have to have a chess book memorized to have a solid opening. Just think about the position and what would be the best move. You may be smarter than you think! 
I hope this helps!
Nov 29, 2021
0
#13
I can sympathize. In my case, I get mesmerized by what I'm going to do and overlook what my opponent is doing. My last loss was simply abject stupidity (no offence to the person I was playing).
Nov 29, 2021
0
#15
I have to agree with garbagem8 and others urging you to consider a longer time control. I started out on chess.com 3 mos. ago playing 10 min rapid. The stress of having to find the best move as fast as possible, and the heartbreak of making blunder after blunder, drove me to switch to a 30 min. control. That's when I started enjoying myself. Geez, what's the rush ? Chess doesn't have to be played fast to be interesting , or challenging, or fun. In fact....
Thank you all for the awesome advice. I will switch to playing longer time in future. ❤️
look guys for 5months I could not get over 700 but I didn't give up and within 1 hour I got past 800
longer time controls is best for improving sure, but if you want to have fun, and time pressure gives you the drama and excitement you crave, then is it really a problem to stagnate with rating? Even if you jump some rating with longer play, you will just get stuck at a higher rating until you expand to the next level of study.
IMO pick the time you most enjoy.
Hi! I think you should just think deeply and try to solve many puzzles each day. When I was 1000 rate, many of my opponents did many blunders and mistakes. Also, try to play moves like c4 in the second or the first move to make you control the center to have the advantage. If you are black, you can play Sicilian defense it is actually very helpful. When you get higher rate, let’s say 1400, you may read books to know how to think better. For example when to trade pieces? Practicing puzzles will let you know how to notice mistakes and blunders, and find more tactics.
I have been playing chess daily for more than 4 months now. But no matter how hard I try I am still stuck around 950-1000 rating. Sometimes I do manage to go over 1000 but I can't keep up my rating. I play mostly 10minutes rapid games and use Ruy Lopez (exchange variation) and Caro Kann as my openings. I used to practice tactics daily but lately because of rating I feel less and less motivated to play any tactics. Any tips on overcoming this? I just turned 30, so could this be the end of the road?