distractions
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Feb 26, 2008
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#2
take a break. don't play for a week (go on vacation). during that time work hard on the tactics trainer. then try again. seriously.
Good advice. A week away resets your mind, and often brings back creativity.
Playing through it can work... i've seen people actually pick up the number of games and power their way through a funk, but I don't think it's nearly as effective as just taking a little time away from the game, or changing focus to studying instead of playing.
I've played enough games with you now Pawn to know a little bit about your game. By itself, its pretty solid. You have your opening game down, your middle is decently designed, and I dont see you making careless mistakes at the end.
What I think your lacking, is tactics and the ability to observe the outcome of your moves 2-5 after you play them. Try the tactics trainer, its teaching me stuff. Play through the daily puzzles their wonderful. And, if necessary, take a break. I'll be ready for another game any time you are.
You do not have a clue as to why you are losing? Well I will tell you this, you are losing because you have suffered a malaise. Snap out of it. Be the man that you are. Although recent history has dictated how we view the losing side that is not the most important point. Told and untold battles have been fought by armies who have lost. History also tells us whether they fought for a righteous cause. Although playing chess does not come to such levels of importance, each player fights a righteous battle. Good versus evil is not interjected. The old addage applies here, "It is how well you played the game".
What Pawnpower described has happened to me too. I've suddenly hit such a slump. I think I need to do what Erik advises right away. First I need to resign my way out of this tournament...
I am in the middle of a slump as well. I have decided to double the time spent studying Chess over the next few weeks to try to bring myself out of it.
thanks all of you who have commented and thanks especially to xilbus for his comments about our past games... (you are the highest ranked person ive beaten incidentally) and for helping me thru this slump. i also like chris's comment about basically how i need to "man up" and "fight the good fight", mostly because i love the game!!! if anyone on this post would like to play a "friendly game" where we can openly discuss positions and tactics i would be more than honored. ideally i would like to share thoughts about every move and discuss the details no matter how revealing they are about our positions along with revealing weaknesses in both ours and our opponents position. we could work thru our slumps together!!!
thanks for the comments
pawn
I think that a slump is only a lapse in psychology. Don't play fast, impulsive moves. Instead, you might want to spend about 5-10 minutes on each move and try to find the best move. Play to destroy your opponent and make him run for cover.
The funny thing is that, rating-wise, the opposite happens to me. When I started playing in chess.com, my rating jumped to about 1600, only to get down to the mid 1400s. Then, some time after, my rating reached the low 1700s, and then went to 1500-1600 area, which is where it is now. To tell you the truth, I don't have any suggestions, other than reading the other suggestions, of course.
I remember listening to a strong player talk about this at a chess club, he said you have to discipline your thinking skills, force yourself to answer these questions every move:
1. What was the purpose of the move?
2. What threats have been created?
3. What tactics / combinations are there?
4. Find 3 candidate moves and calculate.
5. Is my chosen move going to hang anything ?
Play move.
thanks lochness... that is some really great advice... and killabeez is also right in that i feel like i have been playing impulsive moves and probably too fast...
thanks guys!!!
Well i have to tell you we all have to deal with this from time to time so don't feel too bad. I have been playing chess for about 40 years now and have seen my fair share of times when i couldn't do anything right, for me i just continue playing and work my way out of it but that's not for everyone Hope it all works out for you hang in there.
i have now lost 9 out of my last 10 games and have been feeling really frustrated with the game of chess. im not a great player by any stretch of the immagination, although i do love to play. ive been hoovering around the 1450 mark... but after this losing streak, im now below 1375. ive been losing to 1100's and the likes... im completely turned around!!!
any tips on how to get my "mojo" back???
pawn