I have found that playing correspondence chess (you can still play OTB as much as you wish) does improve your play. There is less pressure and you'll learn openings, strategy, endgames, and tactics easily. In the long run, correspondence chess will make you a better over-the-board player.
Plus, if you try it, you have nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain!
TH
i love how people cry and whine when they don't start out winning in chess when they are smart. I hate to burst your bubble but there is more to chess than having a good brain. just because you can solve a math problem or write a good essay doesn't mean that you can put a 5-10 move combination together. read some books, play more games to get experience, ANALYZE those games to see where you can make improvements, learn some opening lines so you dont fall for stupid traps. learn the value of the pieces...etc etc. the first site i ever played chess at i had a 1 win 49 loss record. by the end of the first 3 months, after studying hard and teaching myself how to play i was around 1300. that was about 3 months ago and ive improved still. dont think i got there by being smart, that only plays a minimal part in it, although it does help to be able to think strategically