Originally posted by RookRAKI never had drops like that, but very simular nonetheless. Especially tacticall ability sometimes drop dramatically without any clear reason. Strategy and positionally I never drop, just slowly improve, but tactical ability goes constantly up and down. Happens to me once every two to three months. It usually lasts - with me that is- no longer than two weeks.
... or rather my rating is. I've drop 270 rating points in 6 weeks (without being timed out).
Feb 3rd I hit my all-time high rating of 1698. Sure, I knew it was a temporary spike but I was playing some good chess, and beat a few pretty good players. Since then I'm playing miserably, just giving pieces away and losing to everyone.
Anyone else ever have a skid like this? Any advice for breaking out of it?
Stop playing chess for a short while works good for me, no chess for a couple of days or a week usually does the trick for me.
Playing lots of chess usually only agrivates it with me as I get more and more frustated when I make another blunder.
I hope this helps.
Originally posted by RookRAKYou also might try cutting down on your game load for a while. Any time I've had a skid, going down to 25 games or less and really focusing on those few has seemed to sharpen me up.
... or rather my rating is. I've drop 270 rating points in 6 weeks (without being timed out).
Feb 3rd I hit my all-time high rating of 1698. Sure, I knew it was a temporary spike but I was playing some good chess, and beat a few pretty good players. Since then I'm playing miserably, just giving pieces away and losing to everyone.
Anyone else ever have a skid like this? Any advice for breaking out of it?
It happens. I spiked up to 1720 in late December 2005 then dropped down to 1470. I have since worked my way (slowly) back to the low 1600s (a brief spike into the upper 1600s). While taking a day or 2 off may help refresh your mind, daily tactics (10 min) is a huge boon. What I do is whenever I find myself looking at a position for 5-10 minutes (most only take half a minute to 2 minutes tops) I write my notes in the notebook, move it to another folder and do not move in that game until you've slept. When you wake up review your notes, if you still agree with your assessment, make the move.
Originally posted by PeterSwan2I appreciate it! If things turn around I'll have to give you a rook in our next match.
You're lucks just changed - I've resigned our game after blowing a Rook for nothing. Maybe this is the start of a recovery - remember where it started and thank me later....looks like its my turn to sink - that's 100 points in a week and not looking like improving soon...
Originally posted by NaamloosI know what you mean that playing more just makes it worse. I should learn that when I get on a bad streak I should take a break. Instead, I becoming determined that somehow my next move will be brilliant and make up for the previous blunders. When will I ever learn?
I never had drops like that, but very simular nonetheless. Especially tacticall ability sometimes drop dramatically without any clear reason. Strategy and positionally I never drop, just slowly improve, but tactical ability goes constantly up and down. Happens to me once every two to three months. It usually lasts - with me that is- no longer than two weeks ...[text shortened]... tes it with me as I get more and more frustated when I make another blunder.
I hope this helps.
A tell-tale sign is that I always leave little notes in the game notebook, for things I want to look at in post-game analysis. Lately my notebooks say a lot of things like "I have no idea what to do at move 21". I'm finding more and more board positions where I am simply lacking ideas.