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anyone have any advice on

anyone have any advice on

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putting a stop to overconfidence?

Possibly the only thing I've lost more games with than reckless play in the KG is reckless play from won positions. As in i'm up a rook, so I can stop calculating now and just make the first half-decent-looking move that comes to mind...

I've half a mind to see a shrink, but I doubt my medical insurance would cover seeing a shrink for chess-related recklessness.

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Originally posted by paultopia
putting a stop to overconfidence?

Possibly the only thing I've lost more games with than reckless play in the KG is reckless play from won positions. As in i'm up a rook, so I can stop calculating now and just make the first half-decent-looking move that comes to mind...

I've half a mind to see a shrink, but I doubt my medical insurance would cover seeing a shrink for chess-related recklessness.
Game 524024

I win his bishop, and then decide that winning the game with all these pieces on the board will take too long, so I decide to give the bishop right back to simplify into what looks like a still winning king and pawn game. Only he's able to establish his king in front of my pawn, and then I have no way of making progress.

I guess what I can tell you is this: When the position is roughly equal, you always insist on playing the move you think is objectively the best. Never stop demanding this from yourself, even when you achieve a position that is technically winning.

One thing I don't do anymore when I'm ahead (at least not when I'm sane) is mindlessly trade pieces. I still consider the position. If the position is open and I have the two bishop advantage, even if I'm ahead material I won't just give away one of my bishops for a knight without a good reason (other than, "It's another pair of pieces off the board&quotπŸ˜‰.

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Remember the old saying: 'The hardest thing in chess is winning a won position' πŸ˜€

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Originally posted by paultopia
putting a stop to overconfidence?

Possibly the only thing I've lost more games with than reckless play in the KG is reckless play from won positions. As in i'm up a rook, so I can stop calculating now and just make the first half-decent-looking move that comes to mind...

I've half a mind to see a shrink, but I doubt my medical insurance would cover seeing a shrink for chess-related recklessness.
You're not alone Paul.
I've been making some real blunders this week, to the extent I am also thinking that my brain needs medical attention.
I wouldn't say the following 4 were 'won' positions but I think I had the advantage in each (apart from the last one) then suddenly.... πŸ™

Game 575480 For some reason I thought 30. Qxd1 Bxd1. 31. Re1 mate.. πŸ˜• I realised my error a few milliseconds after clicking move!!!!

Game 546928 Loss of queen on move 22. I resigned before it happened. Didn't have the will to carry on.

Game 572035 I'm a piece up. Then I make a move that results in immediate mate. 😠

Game 581788 Mated in 12 moves 😳 I hadn't even been drinking!!


Obviously I make the odd blunder like everyone else but these are all within a week and I haven't even got that many games on the go.
Aaaarrrrggghh!!

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Everybody plays the fool. There's no exception to the rule.

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Originally posted by paultopia
putting a stop to overconfidence?

Possibly the only thing I've lost more games with than reckless play in the KG is reckless play from won positions. As in i'm up a rook, so I can stop calculating now and just make the first half-decent-looking move that comes to mind...

I've half a mind to see a shrink, but I doubt my medical insurance would cover seeing a shrink for chess-related recklessness.
I wonder why you post this ...........πŸ˜‰

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Originally posted by Ravello
I wonder why you post this ...........πŸ˜‰
Straw that breaks the camel's back?

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Originally posted by ShallowBlue
Loss of queen on move 22.
Your opponent exposed attack on your queen by moving a piece that put your king in check. That is a tactic I need to be on the lookout for from now on! If it is any consolation, I don't think I would have seen that coming either.

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Originally posted by Paul Dirac
Your opponent exposed attack on your queen by moving a piece that put your king in check. That is a tactic I need to be on the lookout for from now on! If it is any consolation, I don't think I would have seen that coming either.
"discovered check"? of course...you always need to be on the lookout...I actually just did the same move in one of my games.

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Originally posted by SirLoseALot
Remember the old saying: 'The hardest thing in chess is winning a won position' πŸ˜€
No that is not true. I had a win the other day. I was watching tv and playing for the win. I was a pawn up and had the win. I moved and my king was a move behind. The game was now even . A few more moves then I was a pawn down. Now I had to resign. How did I lose a easy win. Well I guess I messed up by making a double king move while I was watching tv when I was trying to figure out which move to play. My My it is too easy to lose a even to a won game. Dorn those won games are hard to win.

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Originally posted by Natural Science
Game 524024

I win his bishop, and then decide that winning the game with all these pieces on the board will take too long, so I decide to give the bishop right back to simplify into what looks like a still winning king and pawn game. Only he's able to establish his king in front of my pawn, and then I have no way of making progress.

I ...[text shortened]... for a knight without a good reason (other than, "It's another pair of pieces off the board"πŸ˜‰.
I think you could have won this game.

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You're 23-1 We should be asking you for advice!

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Originally posted by ketchuplover
You're 23-1 We should be asking you for advice!
Me? 23-1? What does that mean?

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In Game 530880 black makes a 19th move with the knight that (as noted above) puts the enemy king in check while simultaneously attacking the queen with a bishop.

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Originally posted by marinakatomb
I think you could have won this game.
I looked at this position exhaustedly for a winning line. There are a few lines that "almost" win, but there is no way to make headway into his position, and turning it into a race doesn't work because he'll always get his queen the same time I get mine.