General advice on how to learn:
Play a lot: In person (over-the-board) in preference to online play.
Find a style of chess that suits you: Your chess journey has to be based on passion, so play whichever style you most enjoy. If you like blitz, play lots of blitz. If you like classical, play lots of classical. The most important thing is that you are enjoying the type of game you play. The MCC runs weekly events for all major time controls: blitz, rapid and classical.
Listen and ask questions: If you play in a slow play tournament, try to analyse the game with your opponent afterwards.
Analyse your own games: When you go over your own games (especially with a computer engine), focus on key ideas, rather than "variations". What do we mean by this? Well, don't study a game by thinking "He went there, then I went here, but I could have gone here!" It's better to try to understand patterns, like which of the moves you made that created strong or weak squares in your position.
Don’t spend too much time on openings: As a novice or intermediate, you should learn enough about an opening to get a playable position. Try to avoid the classic mistake of getting lost in the detail of complex openings, or distracted by ones with dramatic names.
Focus on the fundamentals: Fundamentals never let you down. For a novice, learning the opposition and key squares will be very useful in helping you to win many future games.
Be social!: Improving at chess is not all about study and practice. It's about enjoying yourself, and talking to people on the same path as you (or those who've already walked it!). We're proud that the MCC has a sociable and friendly atmosphere, and we hope novices will take advantage of this fact and join the MCC community.
The following links will help build a solid foundation for a beginner, or provide a great refresher for adults returning to the game.
Introducing children to chess: A Kid's Guide to Playing Chess
Basic concepts: Lichess Practice
Opening principles: IM Danny Rensch’s Principles of Openings
Endgame principles: GM Varuzhan Akobian’s Endgame Studies for Beginners
Middlegame principles: IM John Bartholomew’s Fundamentals Series 1 to 5
Intermediate concepts: FM Grant Szuveges’ Intermediate Lectures 1 to 20