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How do I not play terribly?

There is no on or off switch to playing terrible or playing well. You simply have to improve, one step at a time.
to not play terribly is to not play at all, because with play comes mistake but also the opportunity to grow from it
For starters, think, and make sure not to play blunders.

Another type of mistake in the games to be avoided is when you introduce unnecessary weaknesses in your position. That requires actually learning chess to understand the basic strategy and plan in the openings, mid game, and end game, for example.

Then there's learning to play by tactical and positional chess, which really requires you to study and practice.
#14 has a good point. You may make mistakes, but simply:
It is ok to make mistakes.
I , to improve my chess skill have decided to play slow chess, in all variants, because, let's face it: 0+1 KotH or 0+1 atomic is not all about skill :)

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