Advice on how *NOT* to get nervous?

Zen mode

What I like to think, is this:

You are one game away from 2400 Blitz, but even if you lose it, it's no big deal. You will, given enough time, eventually get BACK to being one game away from 2400 Blitz. And even if you lose that one, the opportunity will arise again, and again, and again. As long as you keep at it, you will reach 2400. Even if it's not today, or tomorrow, or next week, this game is not THE game. If you lose this game, you'll still get that chance back again someday, over and over until you finally win. And all it takes to reach 2400 is to win ONE of those games.

Don't worry. Don't stress. Even if you don't reach 2400 this time, you'll get the chance again. You've got this.

EDIT: I checked your profile page, and wow, you're 15 and 2400?! Congratulations! AND you've only been playing for a year?! You're a prodigy, dude. Also, I apparently posted this too late, you're already at 2400, lol.

Well said. I've seen a lot of really good people get so twisted and involved in the numbers that they lose their passion for the game entirely. It almost feels like a death to me and it is very sad. Nothing is worth losing your chess passion ... NOTHING.

Those numbers are not YOU. Outside of a small environment, they are meaningless. OTOH, FUN ... well, people can't buy that.

ADDED: Okay, SOMETIMES you can buy fun but the real deal isn't for sale.

I only really worry about fide, not online

Thank you for the advice, Yea im 15 lol. But the playing for a year thing is kind of inaccurate. I actually played for like 4 months in covid and got to a 1000(and I also wasn't playing consistently) and then quit because I was satisfied. Until one of my friends reintroduced me to the game in December of 2024. So technically a year and 4 months, but I have been only taking it seriously for only a year or even less.

Still, you’re a prodigy. Getting to 1000 in 4 months, and 2400 in 16 months, is basically unheard of.

Idk it kinda is. Magnus at my age was already GM, so I don't think I have a chance of becoming a top player. I can get gm if I try really hard though for sure.

Kinda? KINDA?! Dude, you are not “kinda” a prodigy. You ARE a prodigy. Do you learn everything this fast?

Not to be narcissistic but yea I would say I have very good learning skills. It's important to distinct between online and otb tho. OTB is much harder and my rating is probably 2000 FIDE or even lower but definitely not 2400

I’m jealous… You’ve got potential, man. Keep going!

thank you!

Technically a prodigy is 2200 at the age of twelve. But you would probably be about 1870 fide

Still an amazing feat

I wouldn't be surprised if you were an IM by 20

Gonna be hard thats for sure

nah man you can do it, playing fide is super fun, and judging how fast you are gaining rating, it will be a breeze

I understand the nervous bit. I have had a fight to get to 1000 Rapid (for a long time stuck in 900-1000). I experience nervousness because I want to win and improve but there is always the possibility of losing. I do have to nerve myself to play a game.

My secret is that I lost so much that it has become second nature.

It's even tougher than that sadly. 2000 fide is really unlikely, it's more likely to be 1800 around this cc rating

I think if you started playing OTB you would become titled eventually though. I've been playing for 3 years and you've surpassed my blitz rating lol

He's growing fast, I think he can become very high rated in otb, I don't know about his classical skill but I think he can absolutely become a titled player in the next 5 years