I'm giving up on this game.

What I hate is when I feel like I'm in control of the game and by all accounts seem to be, then somewhere I make a dumb mistake.

After A LOT of effort and playing several games every day over the past two years I brought my chess game (I only play 10 minute games) up to just over a 900.  I had been on a terrific winning streak, now suddenly I'm losing every single game I play.

I'm sick of it.  I get incredibly angry when I lose a game and completely disgusted with myself.  I don't throw tantrums, but I'll stew about it for the rest of the day.  I have to remind myself that this is just a game, that is all.  I feel tremendously good and proud of myself when I win, but when I lose, ugh.  It just isn't worth it.

I think a lot of people get upset about losing a game of chess because it's an ego blow. They think that they're somehow not as smart or mentally-adept as their opponent. What they don't realize is that chess, for the most part, isn't about being smart. It's a skill, like playing the piano. Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe anyone who puts the time and effort into learning the skill of chess can reach expert or even master level. It's only when you go above that rating that you need a certain genius that some have and some don't. Going back to the piano analogy, if you start practicing piano for eight hours a day, I guarantee you'll be able to play Bach or Chopin. You'll probably never be good enough to play Carnegie Hall, however. The same with chess. Most of us will never be grandmasters or even masters, no matter how hard we try, but you can still obtain a very high level of play, if you put in the time. But a lot of people have no desire to study and play chess eight hours a day.

I've played opponents whose knowledge of openings destroy me (the Danish Gambit comes to mind). Sometimes you simply have no chance to get to the middle or endgame with a decent position. But sometimes when you do get through, you find that your opponent has no idea how to play a simple endgame. Just because someone spends hours studying openings, and knows the traps and pitfalls of certain positions, doesn't mean that they're better at chess than you are.

One last thing. When someone asks me if I'm good at chess, I shrug and simply reply "No idea." No matter what you're rating (unless you're Magnus Carlsen), there will always be someone who will mop the board with you. And there will always be players who'll you'll easily dominate. Knowing that brings a certain peace and lessons the blow when you do lose.

After A LOT of effort and playing several games every day over the past two years I brought my chess game (I only play 10 minute games) up to just over a 900.  I had been on a terrific winning streak, now suddenly I'm losing every single game I play.

I'm sick of it.  I get incredibly angry when I lose a game and completely disgusted with myself.  I don't throw tantrums, but I'll stew about it for the rest of the day.  I have to remind myself that this is just a game, that is all.  I feel tremendously good and proud of myself when I win, but when I lose, ugh.  It just isn't worth it.

I'm not really sure what you're going for with your reference.  Maybe you could make your insult a little more clear?

I disagree with the assertion about quicker time controls.  I do think that shorter games (like G-5) are not good, except for once in a while in order to practice what it's like to be under time pressure, but I don't think 10 minute games are too quick.  In 10 minute games I get to really sit back and think in depth about my position.  Sure, it's not as good as playing 30, 45, or 60 minute games, but I think you can improve with just 10 minute games.  For instance, I've done really no studying, but since about the end of March I've switched from nothing but 5 minute games to nothing but 10 minute ones.  My rating, over that timeframe, has risen from 1913 to an all-time high of 2068.  That's a 155 point increase.

After 1-2 years you should have been EASY arround 1600-1700.