Do you think most people are fairly steady/consistent in their quality of play or variable?
I think most people probably fluctuate a lot. I have across all rating pools and game types. There are so many things that can impact how well someone plays and cause dips in game quality or streaks of winning.
Here's one point of data: over the past several months my rating has been swinging between the high 1200s and the high 1300s.
Probably all people fluctuate (how could you not?)
Some more than others though.
I guess I meant substantially. I do, and it flusters me. It's why I won't ever be a decent tournament player. I tend to play pretty lucidly and pretty badly in cycles. I'm just wondering if people find they can play really well but go on losing streaks and undo their gains and how common that is.
I fluctuate a lot in blitz, like 150 rating points, but not so much in online chess.
I fluctuate a lot in blitz, like 150 rating points, but not so much in online chess.
How in the world do you fluctuate 150 points?
And how long between low and high before it is no longer considered fluctuating but rather improving or getting worse?
I seem to take 2 steps forward and 1 step back. Is this fluctuating?
I was 1540 recently in blitz and fell to less than 1200. I played at night when i was very tired. Not a good idea to do it.
I was 1540 recently in blitz and fell to less that 1200. I played at night when i was very tired. Not a good idea to do it.
I think you might have an addiction.
I think many blitz players have an addiction that is similar to a gambling addiction. They keep playing thinking their 'luck' will change.
Lee, I've seen that your mood is gradually changing on chess.com. Did you get a degree in sarcasmology recently?
It could be fatigue. Try not to play unless you're really in the mood.
I was 1540 recently in blitz and fell to less that 1200. I played at night when i was very tired. Not a good idea to do it.
I think you might have an addiction.
I think many blitz players have an addiction that is similar to a gambling addiction. They keep playing thinking their 'luck' will change.
You are right. The more i lose the more i want to come back despite very bad shape. I've noticed that it's much better to play a few in fresh state rather then a lot at night or in bad shape. Now i don't play that many.
Lee, I've seen that your mood is gradually changing on chess.com. Did you get a degree in sarcasmology recently?
I wasn't being sarcastic here.
I was 1540 recently in blitz and fell to less that 1200. I played at night when i was very tired. Not a good idea to do it.
I think you might have an addiction.
I think many blitz players have an addiction that is similar to a gambling addiction. They keep playing thinking their 'luck' will change.
You are right. The more i lose the more i want to come back despite very bad shape. I've noticed that it's much better to play a few in fresh state rather then a lot at night or in bad shape. Now i don't play that many.
I usually limit myself to 3 - 5 games per session with about 4 sessions a week. I think if I allowed myself to play more, I would fall into this same rut.
Lee, I've seen that your mood is gradually changing on chess.com.
This might be true. I've been very stressed the last couple of months.
I fluctuate quite a bit too. I find I am able to predict whether I will do well in games by simply attempting a dozen or so tactics. I invariably find that on days where I fail more on tactics, my games will echo that result. On the flip side, I play best when I do well with tactics and I'm in a good, focused state, and those are the games I'm proudest of (win or lose).
Having said that, I've found that ever since I started doing tactics every day, my fluctuation is less drastic. I think it has a way of improving my ability to prevent blunders/spot opportunities at a more subconscious level.
I'm still guilty of wanting to play even when I know I'm definitely not on form though. I think all lovers of any endeavour would share the same problem. *shrugs*
Lee, see post # 8.
Lee, see post # 8.
I see. I suppose it was a little sarcastic. But most if it really is surprise about how someone could 'fluctuate' 150 points. Seems like it would take a lot of work.
But, if it is due to my Chess Gambler theory, then it is understandable.
I was 1540 recently in blitz and fell to less that 1200. I played at night when i was very tired. Not a good idea to do it.
I think you might have an addiction.
I think many blitz players have an addiction that is similar to a gambling addiction. They keep playing thinking their 'luck' will change.
This is why I always say you can feel happy if your rating doesn't fall after playing many games in a row.
Do you think most people are fairly steady/consistent in their quality of play or variable?
Personally, I fluctuate a lot in chess. I'm either playing pretty well and winning a lot or backsliding (within a couple of hundred ELO range generally). If I walk away from speed chess for a few days, I usually have to lose a few or several or just have a lower win rate to hit my stride winning again.. I rarely start my first game hot, but sometimes.
In speed chess I've noticed on some days that the difference between a winning streak and a losing streak is often just a *small* difference in the speed at which my mind is operating. I can feel alert and in pretty good form but might be putting the game together in my head just a *little* slower and it disproportionately changes the win/loss ratio.
And also suspect that the pace at which one moves and the kind of moves makes signals the opponent in some cases and changes their perception of the game on a subliminal level and that the win/loss isn't entirely based on the positions involved in the game. That even though the opponent isn't sitting across from you, you can sense their arrogance or competence or carelessness and that can change your mindset and help in winning or losing.