Same problem for me. But i have to say I hate when someone asked a legit question/concern and <instead of answering and trying to help> others view is as an opportunity pontificate.
Again, can someone else share how they have improved their chess focus?
The most difficult thing is to won a won game.
The biggest thing holding me back right now is my inability to focus.
You have to get in the zone from move 1 turn off all the noise in your brain and everything going on outside the 64 squares like a volume on a car radio once you do that and quiet the mind then you go in a very,very deep relaxed state of focused concentration turn on your intuitive sense you only think about the war on the 64 squares nothing else.
There's ways you can prepare the mind to get in this state before playing Chess
Listening to classical music for 2 or 3 hours with headphones can get you in the zone and relaxed for a slow game (find a moving piece that works for you by Beethoven or Mozart)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ptfyhBjXj8
Listening to Classical Piano works too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYwqKKc1VCQ
The biggest thing holding me back right now is my inability to focus. I'd say that in almost 90% of the games I play, I get out of the opening and/or middle game in a vastly better position than my opponent, often a pawn up or even a piece, but I still lose three out of four games. Once I win a pawn or something, suddenly the game becomes incredibly boring, and I can't be bothered to think for more than a split second on each move. I just want the game to be over. I hate playing a winning position.
Any tricks to remaining focused? I'm not bad in the endgame when I'm paying attention, but it's just so hard to keep playing.
This is exactly how it goes for me too. I think I just don't *like* the game? IDK. Winning positions are tedious, terrible, and boring. I just wanna resign, but that's sandbagging.... =/
Interesting predicament. I DON"T hate winning games. How can you? I sit tight on my hands and try to avoid blunders.
Right!