| I would memorize two openings (one for black, one for white) from a book, then play them multiple times against a computer, using the book to respond to whatever the computer did.
Try to understand why the book recommends these moves by analyzing how you can take advantage if the opponent does something different.
Eventually the computer will jump off the script, then it is up to you to play the endgame. If you can beat the computer more than 50% of the time, then increase the difficulty level and start over.
Some people have an intuitive feeling for tactics with chess, based on playing hundreds of games (especially if they are good at speed chess, you probably will never beat them). I never got to that level, but understanding an opening inside and out gave me an advantage against most casual players. | 
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