Hey everyone, since i've been playing more and more chess i've seem to have gotten worse, i can barely concentrate. I've tried to quit but that hasn't exactly worked. i used to be able to give a decent game but now i can barely give a chalanging game to someone thats rating is 1400+

 

can anyone help me? please

I know what you're talking about ... I lose a considerable amount of my games to concentration . I guess that i'll have to find a more structured way of thinking and more importantly that i stop! before i make a move that looks okay ...

This is totally normal to have big swings in performance. The best way to get out of those slumps is NOT to keep on playing, as they usually say in other sports, "just play your way out of it." I find for me its good to step away from playing for a few days, and do some hardcore studying. Read some books, go over 5-10 GM games, analyze a few of your own games, do some tactics trainers, etc etc. This really helps you to refocus.

stop playing for a  while . i find it helps for me

 thanks

I occasionally lose concentration in Chess.  Whenever this happens to me, I usually go do something mindless for a day or so, and then come back refreshed.

i found that i didnt just get worse over night but very gradually over about 2 months.

jay wrote:  Read some books, go over 5-10 GM games, analyze a few of your own games, do some tactics trainers, etc etc. This really helps you to refocus.

---

 Jay has right.Study openings,endgame,tactics,analyze games and most important be patient!

I remember I wasn't happy with my play for a while. I picked up Go and played that for a few months. Eventually, I got back to playing chess. Eventually.

February 10, 2008

Hello Izzie:

Yes, I've played you before, and you play a pretty darned good game of Chess. If I were you, I'd leave Chess alone for about a couple of months.

This is what I'm doing ever since MANIPULATED beat me two in a row. First of all, FIND out what's causing you to LOSE concentration. There's GOT to be something that's causing you the loss of CONCENTRATION. Is it School? Is it your parents LIMITING your use of the computer to just so much time? This could make you in a HURRY to make moves, when you should be taking your time.

Sit back and relax and think things out. And ABOVE ALL... do NOT take your Chess TOO SERIOUSLY!!  It's not that important!  There's no money in it. You are doing it for the GLORY and RECOGNITION the game brings the WINNERS!!  That's all.

So, "don't sweat the small stuff" like they say. This just might enable you to FINALLY enjoy a good game of Chess. And then, again, you might a win a game or two. Because, I believe in you. You have ALREADY beaten me before, so you must have some talent in the way of Chess!!

Take my advice. It's good sound advice. Also, don't pay attention to those "stats". It just means that some people are more adjusted to their ENVIRONMENT, than you may be. They're more relaxed. And this is what you need to do to play a good game of Chess!!

Your friend,

slim 6744

Sometimes the mind is sharp and sometimes it is not. It's tempting to "push through" but that does not help. Refresh yourself in some way. That's true of any activity that you're burning yourself out on.

In chess, tactics study is a surefire way to sharpen up. I like chesstempo myself. It's a change of pace from regular play and improves pattern recognition.