I’m 💩
yes
Are you concentrating on Blitz games where (I think) that sort of thing is rather common?
The OP has a point there. I have noticed similar patterns in Live and Daily regardless of rating. Tactics as well to a somewhat lesser degree.
It is known as plateau.
… An excerpt from one of Dan Heisman “Novice Nook” articles…
"Analysis and Evaluation"...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627010008/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman12.pdf
Reader Question: “You recommend playing at least 2 "slow" games per week for improvement. But, for purposes of this advice, how slow is slow? G/30? G/120? I realize, of course, that playing as slowly as possible is best, but where's the dividing line (or dividing grey area) you are thinking of?”
Answer: Good question. Most internet players think that 30 5 is slow, but that is unlikely slow enough to play "real" chess. You need a game slow enough so that for most of the game you have time to consider all your candidate moves as well as your opponent’s possible replies that at least include his checks, captures, and serious threats, to make sure you can meet all of them. For the average OTB player G/90 is about the fastest, which might be roughly 60 10 online, where there is some delay. But there is no absolute; some people think faster than others and others can play real chess faster because of experience. Many internet players are reluctant to play slower than 30 5 so you might have to settle for that as a "slow" game.
Excerpt from Heisman's "The Best Novice Nook Ideas"…
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627020325/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman100.pdf
- Balancing fast and slow chess practice...
Many instructors feel that playing slow chess almost exclusively is necessary for improvement, but I have strong anecdotal evidence that balancing slow and fast chess practice provides optimum benefits (see Getting the Edge). In my experience, students who play fast chess almost exclusively have problems visualizing (moving pieces around in their head), they often play the occasional slow game too quickly, and have difficulty in planning and endgames. Players who play only slow chess have difficulty learning their openings, recognizing critical positions and basic tactical patterns, and often panic in time trouble. The best solution, as in many things, is a healthy balance. I would guess up to ninety percent of your playing time should be slow games (thirty minutes for each player or preferably more) and the other ten percent speed games. If possible, play speed games with the same increment as required by your federation (or local organizer) for slow games. That way, when you get into time trouble in important games, your brain is “attuned” to finding moves efficiently at that speed. ...
