Chess Slump?

Is there such a thing in this game too or do I just flat out suck. Seriously Im getting crushed. Actually, no Im not. Im giving away wins. Oh you're completely screwed? Here, have my knight, Ill just hang it out here for you. I used to be around 1400. Im about to go below 1000. Ive been trying to learn more and I just keep losing. I dont get it. Are there people that just arent good at this game? Or am I over reacting by going like 3-20 the last few nights.

Get some sleep. The game will wait for you.

The other day I hit 1700 in live/standard, and within six games(about three hours) I dropped to 1590

It could be a slump, but it could be that whatever you're studying, it's not the right thing. There was a lot of good advice for you in your "How do I study the middlegame" thread, but having looked at a couple of your games today, it seems that you haven't taken any of it to heart.

15 minute games might still be too fast for you right now. If you can, try to increase them to at least 30 minutes.

Before every one of your moves, always look for checks, captures, and threats for your next move and your opponent's likely responses.

Work on developing your pieces in the opening instead of moving the same piece twice and starting a useless and ineffective threat that your opponent can easily meet.

Try to castle earlier. You're still getting into trouble by waiting too long to castle.

And I'd like to see you play more e4 games. Nothing wrong with d4, but try some assortment.

And of course, tactics. (You may be doing this, I can't tell.)

All this stuff is basic. Don't try to get too esoteric, it won't help at this point. Don't get discouraged, ratings don't always follow a straight line. But you have to be studying the things that will help you get rid of the weak links.

Oh I have. You're just seeing how bad Im actually playing. I stink at e4 apparently. I just tried a few d4 games to try to get some wins back. I checked out a ton of pawn videos, to the point where I felt like I should be able to come up with a plan a lot easier. Then I come on to play and I do all the stuff youre seeing. And I did sign up for chesstempo, which Im also doing very bad at. My tactics rating on here also dropped from 1100 to <1000. And in reviewing the pawn videos I learned what a majority attack was, and found a couple other tactical shots I wanted to try in QG. So dont say I havent been listening. The stuff I didnt understand I began learning. And as for e4 I started to try out the Ruy Lopez maze of theory

OK, maybe you have too many ideas rattling around in the old noggin, lol. Pick one - Every move look for checks, captures, and threats. Forget everything else at the moment. Work on that one item for a while, and see if it makes a difference.

When this started happening to me, I made the time control slightly longer. If you're playing 5 0, try playing 5 2.

I guaruntee this will change your mood, and help your play. :)

By the way, I suspect that ton of pawn videos probably didn't help and only added to the confusion. Your plan right now should have very little to do with fancy pawn structure ideas.

Your plan should be: Push a couple of central pawns, develop ALL of your minor pieces, castle, and move your queen to the second rank so your rooks are connected. Then worry about the middlegame. It's really not any more complicated than that.

He's playing 15 minute games, but he's still hanging pieces.

And at low levels, you don't have to switch around openings. If you are a tactical player, play d4 openings usually. If you like open, attacking style positions, pick an e4 opening and stick to it.

Well than that's a bad thing. Stop doing that.

Practise tactics. Also have more fluidity in your pieces and your attacks. Try to control the square before you place a piece on it.

From my own personal experience from someone who is usually around a 1400 all time controls averaged, I can have times when I feel like I'm "in the zone" and beat a 1900 and then times in a slump where I'll lose to people rated 50 points below my rating.

More often than not, my "in the zone" times come when I don't have any deadlines at work or college the next day, am not drunk or on pills of any kind, have had at least one meal during the previous 24 hours and have had at least 5 hours of sleep the night before.

Otherwise, I find myself slumpin'.

Just one night of playing after a bottle and you can lose 20-30 games in a row before realizing, "oh yeah, I probably shouldn't be playing right now." 

But then, it's too late and the damage is done.

I think it can be any number of factors.

Another example. I thought I was making some progress tactically, and my tactics rating went up to 1670 before I called it quits one night not long ago. 

Then after a bottle, I failed a string of problems and found it hard to get back to the 1600 level where I had plateaued before my peak.

I'm confident it will all come back in time though.

Just have to avoid those mind altering things that can impair your judgment, especially the ones you don't really think about effecting your form like sleep, stress and diet.

Something that helps for me is to concentrate on learning a new skill that I was weak at before instead of a new rating level.

Usually the one takes care of the other, or at least has so far.

Again, I've only really been playing on here since Feb of last year, so keep that in context too.

In any event, I don't think it's abnormal for a slump and you can get right back to winning again even if it doesn't all return at once.

Best wishes