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Why am I not improving?

I am rated around 1250 to 1290 in lichess (classical) and below 1100 (in Blitz), my highest rating was 1408 and that was a few months back, after that i stopped playing chess for sometime and my rating dropped, i usually play the Italian Opening and don't know much about other opening. I study and watch chess videos a lot about different kind of opening and traps but still my game is not improving. I have a friend who hardly does any of these activities and have no idea about any particular opening but still he is rated 1600 in classical and 1500 in blitz. Please give me some advice. Thanks in advance.
First of all opening does not matter certainly not at this level. Italian opening is fine, it was even played at the last world championship.
Do not play for traps. Play for a good position, develop your pieces and play for the centre.
Play classical, not blitz.
Study endgames.
I think Kasparov has the same problem - he is not improving anymore :)

Play for fun or have fun without playing!
en.lichess.org/JixjyfDv/black
#5 Nxb4 6. cxb4 Qf6. (Not really a trap.)
#6 No need to attack the bishop.
#10 Missed that pawn was unprotected.
#13 Taking a protected pawn.
Just looking for hanging material will improve your game greatly.
Do you play too quickly?
How much time did you spend on your first 13 moves in the above concrete example?
By the way on move 13 you could have taken either 13...Nxc5 or 13...Bxc5 winning back one pawn.
Tactics are the biggest problem at your rating level. I would suggest doing tactic puzzles. Once you stop making blunders in 2-3 moves. Review all your games especially loses with the computer. This helps to teach you where you are going wrong.
TL;DR- focus on tactics and not openings at your level, while learning opening principles and basic endgame play.

You need a balanced approach to studying chess for improvement. You can focus on a particular element of chess, for example you can (and should) focus on tactics at your level but also dabble in endgame and opening elements too. The biggest set back for players at your level is the constant missing and hanging of pieces. You can play 12 moves of Italian opening theory and then on move 13 hand a piece and those 12 moves of opening theory didn't save you from your over all shortcoming- keeping your pieces safe and taking your opponents unsafe pieces. I'd immediately start to focus on three things- every opening you try to develop all your pieces to active and if possible central squares in a way that they are all safe. By safe I mean you can only lose the piece to an equal trade or an advantageous trade- for example your opponent takes a knight of yours for their rook. Once you've developed your plan is simple- attack and control the center. That is all you need to worry about in openings for now, just develop your pieces as quickly as possible and control the center or fight for control of the center and get your king to safety. Theory is not needed to play the opening at your level, many deviate from known theory by move 5 at your level anyway. Now with all your study time sit down with a book, online software, or website that has tactical puzzles. Take your time on each puzzle and try to solve them correctly. I prefer to begin with themed puzzles- for example forks. Each puzzle has a fork you can play and you must find it. This trains your brain to learn a specific tactical motif and eventually you will begin to spot them in your games more easily, and miss them less frequently. Once you are proficient at one tactical motif, move to another one.

Endgames- Very underrated at your level. Learning basic endgame play can dramatically increase your winning chances at your level because so many beginners ignore this aspect of play. I've seen players lose games with a three pawn advantage in endgames before. You need to know how to checkmate easily with queen and king and rook and king. You should know how to promote a pawn with the assistance of a king verses a king and how you can best defend against it. Lastly you should know that endgames teach you a valuable lesson- PIECE ACTIVITY. Piece activity in chess is very important and the endgame it is often a critical element in all positions. You can watch youtube videos online showing how an active rook and king can draw against a pawn and king and rook in many cases with good play. So endgames have a lot to offer us, especially those who are beginners.

Chess can seem daunting to beginner players with the vast amount of information there on it. But you also can rapidly improve your play if you focus on key chess elements and be consistent in your practice.
Chess moves are given by engines, played by players and some of use do not fully understood why it was played. Principles and strategies are taught by people and they explain why. By using our eyes and ears we can learn 2 times faster. So, listening to chess videos will help you improve. I just discovered these links, which I think will help you get better.
youtu.be/JpIBvjmULzw
youtu.be/0LlJosnaOQk
I would say, LEARN, the 'scholar's mate'. It only takes a few moves but it enforces and underpins some of the most basic ideas of chess. Learn the pattern, what each move you're doing is trying to accomplish and the structure (the strengths and weaknesses of your pieces, as you move them). Forget about what your opponent is trying to do in the short term and focus on what you're trying to achieve and more importantly, how.

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