Maybe it's a necessary step to progress and you're on the right track. Personally, even if my game is very imperfect (I'm a beginner) I limit myself to not giving up too much by hoping for the opponent's mistake. So, given that I'm already mentally ready to lose, I still look for the best way out. It's already a good exercise, I think to improve one's serenity and therefore one's mental state in defeat.
Fear of Losing: How to Overcome Reliance on Opponent’s Blunders?
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Lately, I’ve been struggling with a psychological issue while playing chess.
I feel like I only win games because of my opponent’s blunders, not because of my own strong play.
This creates a kind of fear inside me — I start thinking “I will lose unless my opponent makes a mistake.”
My questions to the community are:
How can I overcome this fear of losing every game?
What mindset should I develop to focus on playing good moves, rather than just hoping for blunders?
How do I train myself to build confidence in my own skills (calculation, strategy, planning)?
Are there any exercises or mental techniques that helped you personally to break this cycle?
I want to improve not just technically, but also mentally. Any advice, books, or personal experiences would be really helpful.