Hello, this is my first post on this forum. I'm a chess master and in the past played chess a lot, and for a few years of my life professionally (lived from it). I live in Croatia, a former socialistic Yugoslavia, from the east block, where the chess was popular, like in Russia. Now I don't play so often, I'm a developer and don't have a time.
Steve, if I may suggest some book, the one that helped a lot to me was an almost 100 years old book My System from Aron (or Aaron) Nimzowitsch. In my early development, after reading that little gem, the quality of my game skyrocketed.
Amazon link:
Amazon.com: My System (Chess Classics): Aron Nimzowitsch: Books
If you, or anyone else need some advice about chess, I'd be glad to help. I literally lived and dreamed chess part of my life.
Pero