@20 I googled that term but still don't know what a stokyo exercise is. I'm very interested though if you'd be willing to explain.
Oh, should be out there somewhere.
What you do is set up a board with the tactical position you want to solve. Then calculate to solve it (of course). But after that (not during) write down the solution you calculated. Now go back and try to improve the opponent's defense.
Of course you'll try to do this during the calculation, but this will help you sort of go through your intended solution move by move challenging each of them. (All without moving the pieces, this is visualization practice too).
Many common errors (in real games and in puzzles) are due to assuming the opponent will do something that will help you. For example you sacrifice a piece, you assume they will capture it, then you checkmate them!
... but what if they don't accept it? What if they saw the checkmate coming? Then you improve the defense. If so, don't erase your initial line, just write under it the new variation for how you'll win if they don't accept the sacrifice.
As you get better at it, try to improve the defense without writing anything down to help you. You'll still write down the solutions though, because that way when you compare it to the answer you can see what you really did miss (instead of lying to yourself that you saw that too, or that other thing was your main variation). Eventually you'll just automatically "improve" your calculation as it happens (or rather, the very first thing you'll always look for is how the opponent can frustrate your plans).
Usually this exercise is done with more nebulous positions where you're not sure if it's tactic, or anything else special (it could just be an equal position), but still, there's a lot of calculate, and you write things down to keep you honest and organized.
Oh, and of course all this is done without moving the pieces.
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As for tactics, one bit of advice I saw, was that if after 10 minutes you can't solve it, then you can move the pieces around... but don't just check the things you've been calculating, look for new ideas too.
The advice you got about doing puzzles quickly, like 30 to 60 seconds, is fine too. That's more like tactics training. What I'm suggesting is more like analysis and visualization training. Both are important.
Thanks. I already do this, didn't know it had a name.
One thing though, I was the one giving the advice you mention, not receiving. 😁
why cannot I get this regular game of chess to castle? I've tried sliding over the Kings rook and the moving the king to the other side, but it just pops back.
Move the king over two squares towards the rook. If you start by moving the rook you might just be making a normal rook move, but if you try to move the king two squares, there's only one thing you can be doing, and it will move the rook automatically.
But do ensure you haven't moved either the king or the rook, you're not in check, and your king isn't move to (or through) a square threatened by an enemy piece.
"... Having fun playing bullet is great stuff, while 3-0 and 5-0 are also ways to get your pulse pounding and blood pressure leaping off the charts. But will you become a good player? Most likely not. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (June 9, 2016)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/longer-time-controls-are-more-instructive
You may not be the best right now, but all of us have been through this stage, so you can get better, you ain't alone
All I can say is play slow games, take your time, play tournaments, and practice.
LOVE THE GAME AND IT WILL LOVE YOU
[deleted - MOD]
You apologize this instant. You should encourage him, not discourage him and make him believe he can't do it cause he can. And stop using all these bad words. Add positive energy, not negative energy. Write "You may not be the best right now, but all of us have been through this stage, so you can get better, you ain't alone"
Well i am sure you must have read somewhere in all those chess books tha t xtra material trumps strategy, tactics, theory and just about everything else ! So make mental note ( Am i or my opponent hanging a piece ? ) before your every move ! 
So I have become obsessed with this game in the last 6 months. I have read countless books, articles, watched tons of videos and game analysis, memorized 20+ openings and defenses. I know basic middle game theory and am working on my end game theory. I have played tons of tactics puzzles and I know all the terms and such.
Yet it seems like even a terrible player, with little theory or strategy can beat me if they just pay closer attention. I constantly make awful moves that I know, literally two seconds after, that I messed up. I am losing games to very silly mistakes. When I teach others, I feel like I know alot, but when I play, I am absolutely terrible.
I feel like I don't have the 'chess mindset' or a way to see the board where everything makes sense, I see the threats and moves and adjust based on theory and strategy. What should I do next?
Because you don't get good by reading books.
So I have become obsessed with this game in the last 6 months. I have read countless books, articles, watched tons of videos and game analysis, memorized 20+ openings and defenses. I know basic middle game theory and am working on my end game theory. I have played tons of tactics puzzles and I know all the terms and such.
Yet it seems like even a terrible player, with little theory or strategy can beat me if they just pay closer attention. I constantly make awful moves that I know, literally two seconds after, that I messed up. I am losing games to very silly mistakes. When I teach others, I feel like I know alot, but when I play, I am absolutely terrible.
I feel like I don't have the 'chess mindset' or a way to see the board where everything makes sense, I see the threats and moves and adjust based on theory and strategy. What should I do next?
a possibility, is staticity
Do you mean you have only played for for six months then? Everyone loses a lot especially at the beginning. Personally I've played since I was 5 or 6 (I'm almost 25 now) and I'm only ~1600 USCF strength or so. Granted that's partially because I've never really seriously studied for long.. So if you're only 6 months in I wouldn't be discouraged. Just keep practice and studying.
Dont memorise opening or defences , just stick to an easy one (like italian or just take all pieces out in opening). Play longer games, blitz won't help you to improve.Always have a plan. Attack when you have advantage. And practice tactics as much as possible and always look for tactics in game.Create mate threats.Take a minute to understand your opponents next move or plan. Don't drink beer before playing.
How many hours did you study chess?
How many thousands of tactic training have you done?
The answer is they are better cos probably they spend thousands of hours more than you.
Chess improvement can take time. Studying chess for 6 months is just scratching the surface. The information/patterns you learned can take time to be absorb and be used properly by your brain. Looking at your profile, you have not played many games(less than 40 games). Play more games. Expect many defeats on your road to improvement. The important thing, learn from your defeats.
Follow their advice about tactics. Play games at longer time control( at least 15 minutes). Read books appropriate for your level. When you study opening, learn the ideas about them and skip reading opening books that are all about variation memorization. Get Logical Chess Move by Move.
Thinking Tips To Lessen Blunders.
Always study your opponent's last move
Always look at the whole board to see piece positioning
Before you make a move, check if there is a tactical drawback.
Try WWW.365CHESS.COM OPENING EXPLORER.
why cannot I get this regular game of chess to castle? I've tried sliding over the Kings rook and the moving the king to the other side, but it just pops back.