Frustrating paradox

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Avatar of VULPES_VULPES

I've only recently returned to Online Corrospondence chess in a long time. After a few stumblings, I manage to not get a single loss in over 20 games. Subsequently, my live chess games have been horrible, playing miniature after miniature that end after one horrible blunder, and my live chess ratings in all time controls have plummeted from its glorious +1600 pedestal(s).

What is causing this paradox and what can I do to remedy this?

Avatar of ClavierCavalier

First of all, that's not a paradox.  Secondly, perhaps it is because you're rushing your live games?  I've been playing a lot of blitz games, so now my longer time controls are getting worse.  I see some tactics faster, but don't take the time to see them as far as I would have before, and then my opponent shows me a pin I missed.  Another possibility is that your online games are all against weaker opponents and that's why you're winning so many.  A fourth one I can think of, without looking at your games, is that many of the online games I've played end in a time out, making playing skill worthless (which is why I stopped playing them).  

Since you seem to have a bright, scientific mind, I'm sure you won't mind me mentioning all possibilities I can think of, so I'm also going to throw out engine assistance as another possibility.  WIth that siad, I beat you in one game a while ago where you got greedy and didn't check that the bishop wasn't en prise, so I don't suspect you of it.

Try looking at the games you lost and see if there is a connection.  Perhaps there are certain openings you keep losing to.  I have a terrible score against the Sicilian and the King's Gambit, so I've started reading on them.  I'm also going to do some reading on the Queen's Gambit, but the problem there is that the theory is huge.  Now I wonder whether or not the QGD or the Sicilian has more theory.

Avatar of galaxychess123
ClavierCavalier wrote:

First of all, that's not a paradox.  Secondly, perhaps it is because you're rushing your live games?  I've been playing a lot of blitz games, so now my longer time controls are getting worse.  I see some tactics faster, but don't take the time to see them as far as I would have before, and then my opponent shows me a pin I missed.  Another possibility is that your online games are all against weaker opponents and that's why you're winning so many.  A fourth one I can think of, without looking at your games, is that many of the online games I've played end in a time out, making playing skill worthless (which is why I stopped playing them).  

Since you seem to have a bright, scientific mind, I'm sure you won't mind me mentioning all possibilities I can think of, so I'm also going to throw out engine assistance as another possibility.  WIth that siad, I beat you in one game a while ago where you got greedy and didn't check that the bishop wasn't en prise, so I don't suspect you of it.

Try looking at the games you lost and see if there is a connection.  Perhaps there are certain openings you keep losing to.  I have a terrible score against the Sicilian and the King's Gambit, so I've started reading on them.  I'm also going to do some reading on the Queen's Gambit, but the problem there is that the theory is huge.  Now I wonder whether or not the QGD or the Sicilian has more theory.

I can't play anything other than blitz, in other time controls I'm destroyed

Avatar of VULPES_VULPES
ClavierCavalier wrote:

First of all, that's not a paradox.  Secondly, perhaps it is because you're rushing your live games?  I've been playing a lot of blitz games, so now my longer time controls are getting worse.  I see some tactics faster, but don't take the time to see them as far as I would have before, and then my opponent shows me a pin I missed.  Another possibility is that your online games are all against weaker opponents and that's why you're winning so many.  A fourth one I can think of, without looking at your games, is that many of the online games I've played end in a time out, making playing skill worthless (which is why I stopped playing them).  

Since you seem to have a bright, scientific mind, I'm sure you won't mind me mentioning all possibilities I can think of, so I'm also going to throw out engine assistance as another possibility.  WIth that siad, I beat you in one game a while ago where you got greedy and didn't check that the bishop wasn't en prise, so I don't suspect you of it.

Try looking at the games you lost and see if there is a connection.  Perhaps there are certain openings you keep losing to.  I have a terrible score against the Sicilian and the King's Gambit, so I've started reading on them.  I'm also going to do some reading on the Queen's Gambit, but the problem there is that the theory is huge.  Now I wonder whether or not the QGD or the Sicilian has more theory.

All my opponents with whom I've played were between 1400 and 1900, with the majority in the upper range, near my current rating. None of the games ended in timeout (although some people really took their time).

Also, that game we played was a REEAALLY long time ago and I've probably improved since then (back in my patzer 1400-1600 days, I believe), so mention of that is quite irrevelant now. Also, I do well in all openings, according to Game Explorer. although it doesn't really show all of my games for some reason.

Avatar of ClavierCavalier

I used our game as evidence against engine assistance, so I'm not sure that you should refute it.