Why are we so inconsistent?

Ever play nearly perfect in a game, but then accidentally blunder the simplest checkmate? I have. If you ever feel that this is common for you, I will list a few ways you can avoid it.

I have a series of games where I beat a player 600 higher than me, and immediately lose to a player far below my elo. The same goes with accuracy. I play a game in the 80s -90s, then somehow next game play in the 50s-60s. This blog, I will try to dive into some of the top reasons why this phenomenon happens.

1. Lack of rest/ health

When I play tired, it is not uncommon for me to lose 50+ elo. This is because sleep helps with your brain processing system. The same can go if you are sick. Your processing may be weaker during these periods. It is important to note that it is possible for this not to be the case. Just recently I was sick and tired and still play better than my average.

2. Autopilot

When we as humans do a repetitive task over and over again, we tend to think less about what we are doing to conserve energy. Chess is no exception. While every game differs, the core principles of chess stay the same. If you feel like your quality of gameplay is starting to fall, take a break and do something different. If this helps, you may want to document when this effect occurs. 

3. Overconfidence (Sort of like Autopilot in a way)

Ever have your +11 advantage go down the drain quicker than the scholars mate? I have. When we get a high advantage during a game, we may think to ourselves that we have an easy win. This thinking can lead to poor calculations. While researching for this blog, I read some very interesting articles on how overconfidence can lead to underestimating risks. I have done this MANY times, and in some cases, multiple times in one game. Unless you played checkmate, flagged you opponent, or your opponent resigned, your "winning" chess games hasn't yet been won.

Well now you know a few reasons why you may at some times play inconsistently. Remember, there are many more reason than how many I listed (I may do a part 2). Than you all for reading my blog, and if you have anything interesting to share, comment it and let me know.