As I have mentioned in previous threads, I am usually very anal. Black & white? Good! Gray area? Bad!
When I was in high school, I tried to learn how to play chess. I just didn’t have the patience (this was before I realized that I was anal). There were just too many choices, not just for opening moves, but subsequent moves as well.
This problem holds true for nearly any game that requires more strategy than luck of the draw: I suck at Monopoly, but do pretty good at Sorry.
Is it possible to learn strategy or am I doomed in that respect?
I think you’re doomed. Not because it’s impossible to learn strategy, but because you’re not interested in it. It will always be a pain for you, and no fun, in all likehood.
By the way, I’m you’re antithesis. Things only come in various shades of grey, generally difficult to tell apart. And concerning games, the more choices, the better. Chess is just too straightforward, the rules too constraining, the results too predictable.