Right now, I feel like I'm in the middle of probably the worst slump i've experienced playing chess, and I want to know how to break out of it. I find that in many of my games I can't seem to concentrate, making miscalculations all over the board, losing games against opponents I could have beaten handily a couple of weeks ago. I've also noticed (after the fact) that I'm missing tactical opportunities consistently because of my recent inability to concentrate.

 I almost feel as if i've regressed three hundred points, and it's disappointing enough that I feel like giving up on chess.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any advice?

I go through this every eight months or so.  For me, the best way to break out of it is to do two things:

First, I reduce my chess playing.  Burn-out usually occurs when you are playing just too much and the brain sort of goes on automatic as a result.  Take a break from the game, even if just for a few days (I usually start playing a different type of game too).

Second, I like to switch to a different type of chess.  For example, if I get burn-out with CC chess, I switch to live chess.  The change of format can help clear your mind. 

Oh chess, that spoiler of moods!! I have wanted to turn my back on chess many times. Stick with it though. I've found that sometimes a break from playing helps things out. Work through some tactics books, maybe read a bio or something. The harder you try to grasp something the quicker it slips away. One thing that worked for me was changing course and reading stuff about the static features of chess. When you concentrate more on good positional placing of your pieces, you'll find that tactics will spring forth. Instead of trying to create tactics, look to have all of your pieces be actively placed. Fischer himself would say in his game notation that tactics spring from a better position.  Hope these ideas help.

RooksBailey wrote:

I go through this every eight months or so.  For me, the best way to break out of it is to do two things:

First, I reduce my chess playing.  Burn-out usually occurs when you are playing just too much and the brain sort of goes on automatic as a result.  Take a break from the game, even if just for a few days (I usually start playing a different type of game too).

Second, I like to switch to a different type of chess.  For example, if I get burn-out with CC chess, I switch to live chess.  The change of format can help clear your mind. 

This bolded portion makes a ridiculous amount of sense, and I'm fairly confident that you have just pin-pointed my problem. 

Thinking back to these " slump" games, I realize that on many moves after I'm out of opening book play, I'm moving on instinct, rather than looking for positional advantages or tactics. Thanks, for that piece of wisdom

i have already tried that before but ......

my advice is just recall what knowledge you had before and have

a bath first before playin so that youll be refreshed! and in your

game just try your best!!!

more sleep

just about anything that involves concentration is improved immensely by getting the proper amount of sleep