I hope someone has discovered some technique for "switching on for chess" that they are willing to share because I have the same problem with wild inconsistency.
Like you, I have of course noticed that days when I'm tired or under stress I suck even worse than normal, but there are also days when I'm all brighteyed and bushytailed and yet just can't see a thing on the board. Hopefully someone else will have some ideas.
Everyone has off days; even GMs have bad tournaments for no discernable reason. The more theoretical knowledge you have (I don't mean opening theory, I mean principles and such), the easier it is to force your brain to do what you need it to do, because you can go through your mental checks consciously. When you don't have a whole lot of solid knowledge and play mostly by feel, it's next to impossible to help yourself if your feel is just off one day.
I don't have a magic bullet to turn my brain on if it doesn't feel like cooperating, but sometimes just reading out the most ridiculous lines imaginable (see how many pieces you can sac in the next 5 moves, and see if you can find an advantage) can jump-start it for me. A few tactics problems also has helped in the past, but nothing consistently works. Some days I know I just have to not make any moves that day, and wait until the next day.
Don't look for answers from me. I too have the wild swing problem. I wish I new ahead of time when I'm not focused, because I wouldn't play. I never know until I'm in the game and can see everything, or can't see anything. When I'm off, I'm off even if I try hearder to focus.
me too. one day i'm scalping 2000s and the very next i'll give five games away in a row to 1500s. that's why i'll never be very good at this game but i guess you don't have to be a master to love it. sigh... :D
I could have so much fun with this thread...
Strangley, even in the morning and after a nice cup of coffee I am unable to focus. Later on in the evening I'm okay. However my chess addiction being what it is I manage to make moves in the morning in all except my most difficult games.
No, I'm usually pretty bad. That's what I use all the tools available here for! :P
For me, routine helps. Before OTB games I like to prepare for my opponent by looking at his games and his openings. This very rarely has any practical use in the game itself but it seems to focus my mind better and I take the game more seriously. More often than not the openings I've looked at don't even come up. Experience helps too, I've become more consistent over the years, particularly against lower rated players. I went through a stage of being unable to focus against lower rated players and losing much more often than I should have. Being confident, knowing what I'm doing and playing the board, not the player has helped me a lot.
Overall it takes time to work out what's best for you. Some people play better with a clear mind, others like to "warm up" first.
chess is like riding a bicycle.
I think everyone has thier ups and downs. Unless you play alot, it's hard to keep a steady pace while trying to improve your rating. I find that if I haven't studied anything for awhile, I get sloppy in my thinking and down goes the rating.
you must optimize each piece. each piece need to be just as good at atacking, as it would be in defence. When one gain material, watch out for underming your defense...think at least two to three moves ahead...dont waste time with the obvious...invent your attack, disguise your strengths, and unleash it when least expected. Even if you loose, your oponent will know that it was no pushover game:) be inventive, use the tacticks and improvise all the principles, you will be amased how your pieces will get in line, and support each other, gooddluck:)
Are you allways good at focusing on your game or do you ebb and flow ?
Sometimes i'll hit Tactics Trainer and get 9 out of ten problems correct. Next day i will get 10 wrong in a row. Sometimes i can win 5 games straight, then next day can't win a trick.
I know if you're tired or your mind is pre-occupied with matters ,that it has an effect on your ability to focus. But some times it seems that my brain just doesn't want to switch on to chess.
So my queastion is . . . . . . do other people have good days and not so good days at chess or is it just me ?
My other queastion is . . . . . . do you have any techniques you use to "switch" on for chess ?
Thanks in advance GD.