The OP joined CC March 7th. Played 21 games as of March 9th. 11 wins and 10 losses.
Look again. Been here over a year and 1500 games.
My apology. I confused you with another poster. No offense intended. I appreciate the correction.
"If you just want to learn or test an opening there is always the unrated game option."
For live?
"Also you can set a range of ratings you want to play by using the "custom game" option."
Yea, I was surprised no one else chimed in with this yet. I was looking for a "sliding scale" formula so you don't have to keep changing your customized settings for the next one game.
"You actually improve faster by playing players that are higher rated than you"
That is a half truth myth. A few years back, I heard in commentary that the Chinese would find won games by upcoming opponents. Then, they would research to see how they could have played those games better. Who is to guarantee that the opponent would always be higher rated?
If you play against a higher rated player and don't understand the positions you enter into, then it's useless. If we could simply play higher rated opponents, then why not play Stockfish all day?
My view is there are stages in development. You can be a master in one corner of a stage you are at, but that doesn't mean you know the other corners. Just look at d4/e4 as an opening. Maybe you are strong in e4. But can you play d4 as white against someone 50-100 points lower than you?
A lot of these guidelines by 2000+ titled chess coaches are best applied to 1800+ USCF/FIDE tournament players.
Until then, you need to learn your fundamentals.
There's a little green switch 3/4 down the page on live to toggle on/off rated to unrated.
Ok, can you present us and regale us with a little green switch? This is what I see.
The green switch is not down, but up in the upper right.
But if you want the little green men, then listen to this:
From the screen you show in your screenshot just click "custom" and it should be on that screen.
OP I'm going to try to be as constructive and helpful as possible. I'm on your side here and I'd love to see you improve.
I noticed in a few of your games you're just straight up hanging pieces. For example, you played this as black in a 30 minute rapid game:
You'll never improve beyond your current rating until you stop making these 1 move blunders where you just straight up hang a piece.
So let's try to figure out why you're doing it: what was going through your mind when you played this move? How did you expect your opponent to respond?
I recommend that you (and anyone below 1000 rapid rating on this site) watch this video on "Undefended Pieces":
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao9iOeK_jvU&t=387s
It does not matter if I change the parameters or not, I'll find a way to lose.
This is ridiculous. I hate this game.
Just looked at your last game and you hung your horse…
There’s probably one or more of these 1 move blunders in every game you’re playing.
If you decrease the amount of these, and capitalize on your opponents, you will win more games.
#SmashEm
I'm convinced lower rated players are getting better. Since hitting 630, I have backslid 140 points, and I am not playing differently than when I was 630. I know I am not that good, but suddenly I am getting beaten by everyone in my general range.
Maybe I'm just getting dumber/ worse the more I practice. I don't know how to get out of this slump aside from quitting altogether. This is humiliating.
I'm convinced lower rated players are getting better. Since hitting 630, I have backslid 140 points, and I am not playing differently than when I was 630. I know I am not that good, but suddenly I am getting beaten by everyone in my general range.
Maybe I'm just getting dumber/ worse the more I practice. I don't know how to get out of this slump aside from quitting altogether. This is humiliating.
You were over 600 only 1 month ago...
Typical improvement is 2 steps forward and 1 step back. The general trend is up, but there are slumps and roadblocks along the way.
No one who plays often has a rating graph that does nothing but go up... really the only time you see that is for over the board ratings on kids who are underrated and don't play often enough for their rating to catch up to their skill.
Just looked at your last game and you hung your horse…
There’s probably one or more of these 1 move blunders in every game you’re playing.
If you decrease the amount of these, and capitalize on your opponents, you will win more games.
#SmashEm
Sure, but that's like telling a golfer "I notice that sometimes you hit the ball and it doesn't go in the hole. If you just hit the ball in the hole you'll be a better player."
Well... yeah. That's how the game works. Everyone knows that but it doesn't make it any easier.
I'm convinced lower rated players are getting better. Since hitting 630, I have backslid 140 points, and I am not playing differently than when I was 630. I know I am not that good, but suddenly I am getting beaten by everyone in my general range.
Maybe I'm just getting dumber/ worse the more I practice. I don't know how to get out of this slump aside from quitting altogether. This is humiliating.
You were over 600 only 1 month ago...
Typical improvement is 2 steps forward and 1 step back. The general trend is up, but there are slumps and roadblocks along the way.
No one who plays often has a rating graph that does nothing but go up... really the only time you see that is for over the board ratings on kids who are underrated and don't play often enough for their rating to catch up to their skill.
This is not two steps forward one step back. Its one step forward, two (or three) back
Yes, is the short answer. I think the chess pool on chess.com in general is getting better, not just the lower rated players. If you want an instant 200 point boost play on lichess.com
Yes, is the short answer. I think the chess pool on chess.com in general is getting better, not just the lower rated players. If you want an instant 200 point boost play on lichess.com
We all know that lichess ratings are inflated compared to ratings here, you are not tricking anybody by saying that you are higher rated on lichess.
The OP joined CC March 7th. Played 21 games as of March 9th. 11 wins and 10 losses.
Look again. Been here over a year and 1500 games.
I think @Wits-end thought @LookUnderTheBoard was the OP
Yep, my mistake. Apology extended to the OP!