I am currently in a chess crisis. I move extremely slowly because I just can't come up with any decent moves. I almost hate to look at my games because most of them are crap. My rating has started to drop. I have been playing chess for about 9 months now, and while I always had to work hard to find half-decent moves, I had a feeling that I was getting better. But at the moment, I am not only not making progress, I seem to play worse than before and have no idea what I am doing. Looking at other people's rating graphs, I suspect this is something most people go through from time to time (which is somewhat comforting). How do you deal with it? Any tips?
not very well at the moment, altho there are people taking the time out to coach me through some unrated games!
I went from 1540 down to 1458 in 2-3 days... not sure what my problem is just making stupid mistakes or not looking close enough at what i`m doing. Or just playing people who are much better than me.
I would suggest maybe take a break and relax and then come back to chess after a few days. Post in the forums and stuff... if you don`t have any games that have a 1 day time out... that would be my suggestion...
Which is why i`m hoping to finish my 1 remaining 1 day time out game and then take a 3 day break...
Originally posted by ChakanThanks. I am not sure I'd want to take a total break. So far I have just tried not to force myself to move if I have enough time left (luckily I have mostly 7 day timeout games at the moment), but I look at the games from time to time, hoping for some inspiration which never comes... But next week I am moving and will have a forced break during which I won't have internet access, although I hope that will last less than two days. My rating hasn't suffered that much yet, but that's just because I am moving so slowly that I don't finish many games. I'll probably join you somewhere below 1500 soon...
not very well at the moment, altho there are people taking the time out to coach me through some unrated games!
I went from 1540 down to 1458 in 2-3 days... not sure what my problem is just making stupid mistakes or not looking close enough at what i`m doing. Or just playing people who are much better than me.
I would suggest maybe take a break and rel ...[text shortened]... ch is why i`m hoping to finish my 1 remaining 1 day time out game and then take a 3 day break...
Playing unrated games with a coach sounds like a great idea. I think I'll try to find someone who is willing to coach me through a game after I have moved.
Originally posted by Tactical PlayI have heard this many times, but I think it's only half true, at least for me. I need to win from time to time, or I'll lose my motivation. And I am not entirely sure how much it matters whether I win, lose or draw in terms of how much I learn. I learn from my mistakes, but sometimes I learn from a mistake which doesn't cost me the whole game. I also learn when I almost make a mistake, but figure out why it would be a mistake before I make the move. I think I learn most from games which are challenging, but not hopeless (i.e. games against slightly better players), no matter what the result is. Anyway, you are certainly about one thing, I should analyze my finished games much more.
You don't improve by winning.
The best way to improve your chess is to lose, and then analyze the game afterwards.
What's worked for me a few times is just to slow down. If you stop taking on any new games, and force yourself to take your time on the games that you have at hand.
Taking your time you will slowly regain confidence and rediscover your old strengths, and maybe also learn a bit more about the undiscovered 'landscape' of your abilities. I say landscape because we all have peaks of ability / knowledge, and we all have troughs of weakness. Generally when we play too flipantly we forget what the landscape looks like - leading to loss of confidence in our abilities and a sense of actually being lost.
Phew. 'Lost In Chess'!
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Originally posted by howitzerRushing my moves is not one of my problems. Slowing down has been a symptom of my chess crisis, rather than an attempt to get out of it. I don't know, maybe I should even try to move a bit faster and make mistakes, instead of avoiding to make a decision because it might be a mistake. And then I can try to learn from the mistakes.
What's worked for me a few times is just to slow down.
I hadn't thought about it this way before, so your reply was really helpful, even if it didn't apply to me. Thanks! 🙂
Same problem here my rating is like a fart in space suit up & down up & down.. I remember when I first started playing on yahoo my rating was low, But now has worked its way upto 1400-1550. I know all the tactics, it's planning I need to get better with now, I got some chessbase training add-on's which I'm going to learn at least one white opening and one black. It seams to me everytime I find a way to win somebody starts to copy me and then the solution is found.. Example I've been playing samsich against king's indian on playchess because I've won a few games with it.. everybody is using it now. And when I play it they have found ways to stop my king side attack. 🙁
Added: Game 1292003
Exactly the same problem here. I dropped from 1475 to 1230 in a matter of days. I had beaten +1500 players and a +1600 player too. Then. I struggled to beat a +1000 player. I am gradually clawing my way back to playing a better game again.
For me, reducing the number of games, slowing down and then only playing when I actually was interested in the game rather than when I felt I should move all seemed to help a bit. It certainly seems to be something most people goes through. Perhaps it the biorythms
I have some things to add to this. This is how it goes for me too. Basically what happens is we prolong our losing games out as long as possible, so our ratings go down in swings. You win a bunch in a row, then you lose all the ones you were moving slowly in. So the big up and downs are no surprise right? At least that is how it is for me. No biggie guys! Then, the other problem is that you can't find good moves. Number 1, don't concentrate on the opening phase. Learn a little bit, find openings that you like to play, and move on. Go to the middlegame! Drill tactics(which I also need to work on), and learn the elements of the middlegame and endgame. Buy Jeremy Silmans "Reassess Your Chess"!!! Easily the best book on Middlegame Planning ever. If you can't find good moves, this book will certainly help. Keep studying it and tactics, and I am sure you will cease to not find good moves!
Originally posted by !~TONY~!why dont you guys stop waisting your times in the forums and try to work on your chess instead...
I have some things to add to this. This is how it goes for me too. Basically what happens is we prolong our losing games out as long as possible, so our ratings go down in swings. You win a bunch in a row, then you lose all the ones you were moving slowly in. So the big up and downs are no surprise right? At least that is how it is for me. No biggie guys! T ...[text shortened]... rtainly help. Keep studying it and tactics, and I am sure you will cease to not find good moves!
it would solve all problems in one go... you not playing good chess and me having to reed about your sissy baby crying and comforting eachtoher...
Men pull yourselves together will ya???
Originally posted by Lord of the PawnsIf I should stop playing chess because my rating *might* drop to your level (I still hope I can avoid that), where does that leave you?
maybe it is a lack of talent and you should try soemthing else like collecting coins and stamps...
At least some career prospect!!!!!
As for the "baby crying and comforting each other", I hesitated starting this thread exactly because I didn't want it to be seen that way, but I decided to post it anyway because I hoped for some real advice. And I am glad I did, because I did indeed get some useful advice.