Focus

As I stated in my profile I can't focus on chess. I recently took a little break from chess (maybe for a month) and now I am underperforming severly, I think I play for at least 300-400 points worse than my standard. I have a friend (also playing on this site) and I regulary play OTB with him. He plays at 1300-1400 level. Our match results used to be as bad for him as 15 - 0 for me. Now we are practically even. What to do ?? My mind seems to work totally randomly these days.

It is very frustrating to play at this level after so much time and effort I put into chess.

Originally posted by ivan2908
As I stated in my profile I can't focus on chess. I recently took a little break from chess (maybe for a month) and now I am underperforming severly, I think I play for at least 300-400 points worse than my standard. I have a friend (also playing on this site) and I regulary play OTB with him. He plays at 1300-1400 level. Our match results used to be as bad ...[text shortened]...

It is very frustrating to play at this level after so much time and effort I put into chess.

Well, obviously, part of the answer would probably be: play less games then you do now

Originally posted by adje
Well, obviously, part of the answer would probably be: play less games then you do now

But I have same problem in OTB games as well, actually OTB bothers me the most. I draw with people I can win against with piece handicap without a problem.

Take a break! You know you want to!

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Take a break! You know you want to!

That's not an option. 😛

I've been in that rut too.
I overdid it (too much too fast).
Winding down games in progress helps.
Also try to take as much time away from chess as you can.
I like (or used to like) to play chess for a couple weeks, then poker, then back to chess, and so on.
After being away for a while, you get your perspective/desire to play back.
Sometimes thinking about chess less helps more. 🙂

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Take a break! You know you want to!

from what I understand, he already has taken a break and now is facing the consequences 🙂

just sharpen up your tactics. my uneducated guess is that one's general positional knowledge doesn't go away easily, but your calculation abilities do. Just pick up difficult problems and calculate for the life of yourself.

Try to have fun with it, if that makes sense. Don't worry about the results as much as just trying to play good moves. I find this takes a lot of pressure off of me which allows me to play better and not stress out as much.

go back and pummel the old guys at the beach in Pula?
That will get your confidence up

Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromfics
[b
I like (or used to like) to play chess for a couple weeks, then poker, then back to chess, and so on.
[/b]

Where do you play poker? My handle on Pacific is HHGTTG.

Originally posted by pijun
go back and pummel the old guys at the beach in Pula?
That will get your confidence up

They are there only during the summer 🙂

If it's not fun anymore don't play the game. It's as simple as that.

I didn't say that it isn't fun. I just play badly.