Here's some light at the end of the tunnel...
Learning a "handful" of Chess "Principles" will enable you to have more fun AND win more, instead of playing "headache" chess by memorizing books of openings.
“Winning or losing in chess depends directly on your ability to avoid bad moves AND to take advantage of your opponent’s errors.”
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STRATEGY ONE: Develop All of Your Pieces, and Know Their Relative Values.
STRATEGY TWO: Protect the King… Maintain a Strong Castled Position.
STRATEGY THREE: Control the Board… Especially the Center & Open Files..
STRATEGY FOUR: Maintain the Initiative… Play with Determination.
STRATEGY FIVE: Give Your Opponent Opportunities to Blunder... Attack, Create Traps, Sacrifice…
STRATEGY SIX: Befuddle Your Opponent, Play Opposite Strengths… Fast vs Slow, Endgame vs Gambit.
STRATEGY SEVEN: Multiply Your Moves… use Combinations (including Forks, Discovery Checks...)
STRATEGY EIGHT: Pin or Isolate Your Opponent’s Pieces.
STRATEGY NINE: Disrupt Your Opponents Pawn Structure.
STRATEGY TEN: If at a Disadvantage, Seek a Quick Forced Mate (or Stalemate), Avoid Trades.
STRATEGY ELEVEN: Exploit Your Opponent’s Bad Moves. (See Below for “The Nine Bad Moves” Book Recommendation)
STRATEGY TWELVE: Don’t Just React; Respond with a Counter-Attack.
STRATEGY THIRTEEN: Always look for Threats… Guard Against Captures and Diversions.
STRATEGY FOURTEEN: When You Have a Material Advantage, Exchange Remorselessly.
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BOOK => Improving Your Chess: The Nine Bad Moves and How to Avoid Them by Fred Reinfeld (It's a very thin paperback book.)
NUMBER ONE: Neglecting Development of Your Pieces
NUMBER TWO: Exposing Your King to Attack
NUMBER THREE: Making Too Many Queen Moves in the Opening
NUMBER FOUR: Grabbing Pawns Thoughtlessly
NUMBER FIVE: Weakening Your Castled Position
NUMBER SIX: Getting Pinned
NUMBER SEVEN: Failing to Guard Against Captures
NUMBER EIGHT: Under Estimating Your Opponents Threats
NUMBER NINE: Losing a Won Game