Personally I don't enjoy anything less than 30 minute games. I consider that a waste of my time. I'd rather play 1 30 minute game than 3 10 minute games any day of the week. Giving myself time to think is so much more valuable to me.
Anything to help relax? I've been trying (with some success) to forget my rating (as low as it is 
) and to just try focusing on playing better chess. That's my goal now.
Personally I don't enjoy anything less than 30 minute games. I consider that a waste of my time. I'd rather play 1 30 minute game than 3 10 minute games any day of the week. Giving myself time to think is so much more valuable to me.
Anything to help relax? I've been trying (with some success) to forget my rating (as low as it is ) and to just try focusing on playing better chess. That's my goal now.
That's a good idea. I find if I think of each game as practice rather than a rating run...I enjoy it more
Personally I don't enjoy anything less than 30 minute games. I consider that a waste of my time. I'd rather play 1 30 minute game than 3 10 minute games any day of the week. Giving myself time to think is so much more valuable to me.
Anything to help relax? I've been trying (with some success) to forget my rating (as low as it is ) and to just try focusing on playing better chess. That's my goal now.
So I'm really a fan of the value of longer (30+ min) games. That said, after I've played, say, three or four 30 minute games in a day, I find that continuing can be problematic. It's hard to keep the same intense focus for more than a few hours. So, what I've been doing lately (to good effect!) is playing 5 minute games if I'm still motivated after a third or fourth 30 minute game. Short games let me practice familiar openings and encourage trying to see tactics a little faster, but since they're rated separately, that can be a safe place to have a total meltdown and not care.
Since following this plan, my rapid rating has been solidly improving. I'm not necessarily getting much better at blitz, but I don't really care that much about that aspect.
Short games should only be for sh!ts and giggles. 'He who analyses blitz is stupid' - Rashid Nezhmetdinov.
hi i'm new
That's a good idea. I find if I think of each game as practice rather than a rating run...I enjoy it more
Me too. I've finally realised there's no point in chasing rating. It's also more disappointing when you lose, as opposed to looking for where you can improve and try to apply that next time.
So I'm really a fan of the value of longer (30+ min) games. That said, after I've played, say, three or four 30 minute games in a day, I find that continuing can be problematic. It's hard to keep the same intense focus for more than a few hours. So, what I've been doing lately (to good effect!) is playing 5 minute games if I'm still motivated after a third or fourth 30 minute game. Short games let me practice familiar openings and encourage trying to see tactics a little faster, but since they're rated separately, that can be a safe place to have a total meltdown and not care.
Since following this plan, my rapid rating has been solidly improving. I'm not necessarily getting much better at blitz, but I don't really care that much about that aspect.
Absolutely, there's only so much concentration I can give before I'll burn out a bit too.
I like the idea about trying shorter games for familiarising openings and such. I've been focusing on playing solid opening principles and trying to not leave pieces undefended. A few ups and downs but that's all part of the progress I guess.
I feel you. I've never played anything longer than 15|10 online in the random pool, the longest time control I've played online EVER is 25|5, and those are from tournaments. I stopped playing 15|10 over a year ago as well...
Anything to help relax? I've been trying (with some success) to forget my rating (as low as it is ) and to just try focusing on playing better chess. That's my goal now.
I agree. Recently been getting back into rapid (10min, because nobody above 2000 rating plays anything longer). If I am capable of forgetting my rating (which for me is very hard to do) and just focus on trying to make the best moves each time... not only does my clock suddenly disappear (where did my time go?) but I also get higher accuracies... and more wins.
is anyone here a newbie like me?
I agree. Recently been getting back into rapid (10min, because nobody above 2000 rating plays anything longer)...
For real? Nobody over 2000 rating plays longer than 10 minutes? I'm shocked and surprised. Is this an online phenomenon?
Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a chess coach based in California. My website is www.ChessByLauren.com.
Maybe listen to relaxing music while you play? Playing chess is for fun, right?
So, I wouldn’t take things so seriously, because wouldn’t that cause more anxiety?
The bottom line is just have fun playing chess. If you are feeling stressed, then think happy thoughts.
I hope that this helps.
Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a chess coach based in California. My website is www.ChessByLauren.com.
Maybe listen to relaxing music while you play? Playing chess is for fun, right?
So, I wouldn’t take things so seriously, because wouldn’t that cause more anxiety?
The bottom line is just have fun playing chess. If you are feeling stressed, then think happy thoughts.
I hope that this helps.
It does, thanks. I think the origin of my chess anxiety is that when I last took up chess in 2009 I rated up to 1326 and had a ten game win streak. So I considered myself pretty decent. When I took it back up two months ago...I just started getting slaughtered by everyone and even lost to a 400 rated player at my bottom. I think that ego hit of realizing I haven't kept up with the progress of chess...and watching my rating drop like a lead zeppelin got in my head. I started playing to get my rating back up instead of fun. I was playing like 10-15 games a day and tilting very badly. This thread has really shown me that playing for fun is way better than playing for rating since I'm not playing to be a IM or GM. I just want to play to the best of my abilities.
I agree. Recently been getting back into rapid (10min, because nobody above 2000 rating plays anything longer)...
For real? Nobody over 2000 rating plays longer than 10 minutes? I'm shocked and surprised. Is this an online phenomenon?
I'm hard pressed to wait for anything shorter than ten seconds to find a match in 10min online. The thing is, I assume most people at higher ratings know how to play and need less time.
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