I didn't look at your game, but it usually means you had a comfortable lead and then threw it away with a blunder. Don't ask how I know...
What does the engine mean when it called this game a "throwaway"?


That's what I would think it would mean, but in this case, the lead changed throughout the game. The game report graph looked like a zig-zag before black finally won.

Well if it's really zig-zag, you get one of these:

I don't think it's a compliment
Are you sure? I thought my 16% accuracy was quite good for a blitz game...
I don't think it's a compliment
Are you sure? I thought my 16% accuracy was quite good for a blitz game...
It's certainly as good as a lot of my games

What I don't get is why you don't want to improve. Lazy? Depressed? But playing chess without wanting to improve is like eating food and not wanting to taste.

What I don't get is why you don't want to improve. Lazy? Depressed? But playing chess without wanting to improve is like eating food and not wanting to taste.
Self deprecating American humor doesn't always translate well...

What I don't get is why you don't want to improve. Lazy? Depressed? But playing chess without wanting to improve is like eating food and not wanting to taste.
Self deprecating American humor doesn't always translate well...
It's quite annoying actually.

I think that the computer is programmed to throw out random thoughts that have no significance. Having said that I have noticed that I get the "throwaway" message for games that I would call non-descript. They're usually run-of-the-mill games where I was ahead from start to finish.

What I don't get is why you don't want to improve. Lazy? Depressed? But playing chess without wanting to improve is like eating food and not wanting to taste.
I guess a combination of both. On a basic level I lack a lot of the mental skills necessary for chess (tenacity, planning ahead, visualizing possible moves), and trying to improve past where I am right now just leads to frustration and discouragement. When I first began playing on this site my rating was in the 400s. After hundreds of games and help from some awesome people on this forum I slowly improved until I broke 800 and then even 900 for a bit, but after that I stalled, and more importantly, the harder I tried, the less I had fun until chess ceased being enjoyable entirely. This led to me quitting chess entirely for several months, and I'm only now cautiously playing again on a casual level. Sorry if this reads like an excuse or sob story - maybe it is. TLDR, I gave up and feel that my current rating is where I am happiest.

Improving isn't incredibly hard. I did 30 tactics a day for a while and my rating improved +200 points.

Well, it was for me. I've done lots of chess tactics too with little to show for it other than a sub-800 tactics score, and john bartholomew's basic video for sub-1000s went over my head too. If anyone wants to gawk or snicker at bad chess games, I can link some of my earlier threads on the for beginners or game analysis section.

Well, it was for me. I've done lots of chess tactics too with little to show for it other than a sub-800 tactics score, and john bartholomew's basic video for sub-1000s went over my head too. If anyone wants to gawk or snicker at bad chess games, I can link some of my earlier threads on the for beginners or game analysis section.
You need to focus on the tactics that you get wrong and why. Look at why the correct move was better than the one you played and why and make sure if it ever comes up again you get it right.

If you aren't trying to improve, then why do you care about what sort of automated messages an engine throws at you? You aren't possibly insulted by a silicon chip, are you?
I didn't look at your game, but it usually means you had a comfortable lead and then threw it away with a blunder. Don't ask how I know...
I suspect that the "throwaway" meant that his opponent, who suddenly gained a large advantage after Black blew his advantage, again gave the advantage back to Black.
In short, White failed to seize his advantage after he fought for the advantage (from a losing position) in the middle.

It is the last move that was a throwaway. You were doing well until that move lead to immediate mate.

Well, it was for me. I've done lots of chess tactics too with little to show for it other than a sub-800 tactics score, and john bartholomew's basic video for sub-1000s went over my head too. If anyone wants to gawk or snicker at bad chess games, I can link some of my earlier threads on the for beginners or game analysis section.
Watch videos made for the 800s. Review your games. Go over threads. It isn't very difficult, especially at your level, to improve.
EDIT 2: Here is what the chart looked like: