How to manage losing streaks?

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Avatar of Quiksilverau

Hi guys,

How to manage losing streaks?

I don't mind winning some and losing some, but losing 7,8,9,10 games in a row for no conscious reason ... How to manage and minimize the length of losing streaks?

Avatar of liveink

The same way you manage a wining steak.. You play chess better.

Avatar of Quiksilverau
liveink wrote:

The same way you manage a wining steak.. You play chess better.

And when you keep losing despite those efforts?

Avatar of Doggy_Style
Quiksilverau wrote:
liveink wrote:

The same way you manage a wining steak.. You play chess better.

And when you keep losing despite those efforts?

Just stop playing. Can't lose if you're not playing.

Avatar of TheGreatOogieBoogie

Play against someone weaker than you.  Or you could study your own games and find deficiencies.  When in doubt study the endgame, especially pawn endings though any will do.  

Avatar of Ziryab

My losing streaks are usually a consequence of poor focus. When I improve my focus, the wins return. How is this accomplished? Sometimes anger, but that can make it worse. Sometimes a glass of bourbon, but three will make it worse. Sometimes sheer will power.

 

I do believe that one must swing through a slump, so I rarely quit playing because I'm losing. That's why my rating can drop more than 200 in an afternoon.

Avatar of Robert_New_Alekhine

Stop playing. Take a break. Come back 30 minutes latler and play again.

Avatar of ClavierCavalier
Ziryab wrote:

 

I do believe that one must swing through a slump, so I rarely quit playing because I'm losing. That's why my rating can drop more than 200 in an afternoon.

I've never understood this idea in most things, and chess seems to be one of them.  Does playing 200 pts below your level help you improve some how?  I thought that perhaps it helps to amplify one's weaknesses, but I'm not even sure about that.  Being angry and dropping a queen, causing more anger, doesn't, unless dropping queens is your weakness.  If that were the case, losing 200 pts would put you in the negatives.

Of course this all comes from someone who used to give up the piano a few times a week, even daily (or twice daily...)

Avatar of Ziryab
ClavierCavalier wrote:
Ziryab wrote:

 

I do believe that one must swing through a slump, so I rarely quit playing because I'm losing. That's why my rating can drop more than 200 in an afternoon.

I've never understood this idea in most things, and chess seems to be one of them.  Does playing 200 pts below your level help you improve some how?  I thought that perhaps it helps to amplify one's weaknesses, but I'm not even sure about that.  Being angry and dropping a queen, causing more anger, doesn't, unless dropping queens is your weakness.  If that were the case, losing 200 pts would put you in the negatives.

Of course this all comes from someone who used to give up the piano a few times a week, even daily (or twice daily...)

Did you ever play baseball?