Endgame psychology

I've noticed an ugly trend in my playing and I'm looking for general advice as to what to do about it. IT's not a tactical problem, it's a mental issue.

When I get into a winning position, I develop tunnel vision and commit heinous blunders. I've just thrown away two games - one where I was a rook up and one where I was a queen (!) up.

It's not a tactical problem as such - obviously I'm sound enough (for my skill level) to get to that position in the first place. But once I taste victory, I suddenly start to miss obvious things and am repeatedly blundering.

I don't know if anyone has anything to offer me in terms of advice, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

I think this happens to many of us, (making moves too quickly, before studying the board) at various stages of the game. You just have to slow down before every move, and pratice your S.W.C.C.T

S. Stop and slowdown, and look at the board, take in what has just happened.

W= Why did your opponant make that move?

C= Checks are there any threats of checks in the next few move.

C= Capture, can U be caputured by any piece on the board, can I capture any piece from my opponant.

T= Threats are there any?

Practice these things and you will stop losing piece's by your own silly moves. I'm not saying you will always win, you just have to look at my record to shown this is not the case, but you will definately win more. Plus you will know you lost because your opponant was more skilled than you, much more satisfing than losing the game by your own errors. Good luck.

when u start getting that antsy,victory feeling...when u just cant wait to move,

get up walk around,get a drink, come back and look at it in a different light.

A master once said: when u see a good move, look for a better one.

Wow - some excellent advice!

I just played a game using the modern defence and had Queenies "SWCCT" written on a piece of paper and taped to the top of my monitor. Then I won the game.

Long way to go of course, but it's a start. Really appreciate your collective input.

In most games there are a pretty clear line where the midgame ends and where the endgame begins. Before (or after if you don't have a choice regarding the reduction) take pretty much time to plan the endgame down to every detail. There are alot of endgame tricks to help you so you don't have to think so deep (the pawn square and stuff like that). Take alot of time doing this, this is usually the part where I spend most time when I play OTB. Make sure you pay attention to those little endgame things that usually matters less in midgame like zugzwang and tempo loss. You should be able to see almost exactly how the endgame will play out. Make sure you save at least a little time on the clock if you play OTB. Use this time for a second stop if your opponent do something unexpected, it might be a blunder but it could be a line you've missed.

This works for me at least but then I love to plot endgames. It's probably my favorite part of the game. 

I'm a keen but not very experienced player, and while I've spent a lot of time studying openings, I think I am basically quite deficient at endgames. Beyond studying the basics and doing Chess Mentor for the past week, I've never really given it enough thought.

Anyone got a good book to recommend?