How do I get good?

How do I get good? If I can’t, how do I get better? (at chess)

You need to study serious books like Dvoretsky Endgame Manual, How to Think like a Grandmaster, Manual of Positional Chess.

@ryan121i literally have those books on my shelf here'

Then what're you asking us for?

"Improvement" at chess is inevitable. But "significant" improvement at chess becomes very difficult at some point in every chess player's life.

Indeed, it becomes difficult for some of us about the same time that we stop breaking out and start producing facial hair.

One thing I've learned -- indeed the only thing chessy that I'm sure about -- merely buying chess books doesn't help much. They actually have to be read, slowly and carefully. I'm not even sure that works -- perhaps I'll be more certain if I'm ever able to finish one.

But I've only been buying chess books for about 30 years -- so there's still time. Maybe. I'm not sure of even that, lately.

Long story short:
"Improvement" at chess is impossible, lately.

@Giraffus said in #3:
> @ryan121i literally have those books on my shelf here'
Decorating bookshelf by keeping books will definitely not improve chess!
You need to read them and not only read but understand them properly.

Play games, analyse those games, take long breaks when you are stuck, rinse-repeat.

Another book you can add to your collection. Encyclopedia of Chess Combination.

Lets all just start naming books that this dude should buy.. Life and games of Mikhail Tal