Well, your main point is certainly right that a large part of playing chess well is simply avoiding blunders; it is surprising how many games even at the 2000+

Well, your main point is certainly right that a large part of playing chess well is simply avoiding blunders; it is surprising how many games even at the 2000+ level are determined because one player blundered, rather than because the other player made any spectacular moves. Of course, those "blunders" get a bit more subtle as you improve. But it is true that the fastest way to improve (below 2000 or so) is to learn how to stop making stupid mistakes rather than learn new tricky moves.