Non improvement and getting demoralized

My rating on FICS tends to fluctuate from 1600-1700. I've been in that range for a pretty long time. I use some books to study with, mainly on tactics and the endgame, and also play on a fairly regular basis against similar strength opponents.

I just can't seem to improve my game anymore, and often times it even seems like I start playing worse. Like currently I'm on a 6 or 7 game loss/draw streak and it seems to work like a snowball effect because I start to play more timid when I keep losing, and opponents seem to sieze on that and play really aggressive and just destroy me.

 Recently I've started trying to annotate games I've just lost, and submitting some for analysis and review... but still it seems like my play is just getting worse. Probably going to drop below 1600 soon. It seems like I have plenty weaknesses in every area of the game, because I lose just as spectacularly to opening traps, midgame tactics and endgame oversight.

 Can anyone help? I'd like to be able to play consistently in the 1700-1800 range, any advice would be appreciated.

Going over your games afterwards helps a lot. If you can get your opponent to go over it with you it helps even more. I think you're doing the right thing though - if you work separately on tactics, endgames, openings, and positional play, then you should improve.

I recommend going over some of your games yourself, and giving others to a chess engine to find out which of your moves were less than perfect, and which of the others were outright blunders.

If you have the time for it, then it is best to go over your games afterwards, followed by going over the game with a computer. So, you can write your thoughts yourself, analyzing afterwards and recalling what you were thinking during the game. Then you can see how right you are with the subsequent computer analysis.

A last possibility is to get a chess coach, but I always recommend doing it yourself first.

-- Ozzie

my advice is simple:

www.chess.com/tactics

www.chess.com/chessmentor

:)

Did I hear a socket somewhere?

 No, unfortunately where I live there's just a tiny chess club (last time I went there were only two guys) that meets at an inconvenient time for me. No tournaments that I know of... Would probably help if I could play offline that way I could discuss the game better with opponent afterwards.

chess like life some times you win other times you lose,

you only get better by keep playing, and the games you loss , go back and look at them.

There is no easy way, 

The average rating in Chess.com is 1300, so you are over average here. There are a lot of people here with more reasons (lower ratings) for complaining than you. Don't take chess only in it's competitive aspect, try to enjoy the game too, and you'll get results soon.

 Loses are much more instructive than wins, get all what you can from them. 

And what about ... the human factor?. Has anyone played against a 1200 rated player (new at chess.com) and go forward the game with security in your moves, thinking.. well, I think I can beat him, and later realize that your opponent is really harder and to find out that his rating is increasing till 1700-1800 i. e. and that this is a consistent rating because months later is still reaching similar values?

I have drawn a game with a 2100 rated player although when our game begun she was new at chess.com with a 1200 rating.

Would you have played in the same way if your opponent had an initial rating of 1800 or so?. I don't think so

So, when a players rating is decreasing (that's my case IöI) the opponents believe firmly that they can win and the tactics maybe more aggressive.. that's my point of view. 

 yoshtodd,

Have you ever been playing against really strong players and felt like you were running into a brickwall?  It feels like there is just no way to beat those guys.

THE BRICK WALL is real.  Once you are on the other side of THE BRICK WALL, you will lose very few games and almost exclusively to players rated 2200 or above.  Anyone rated 1900 or less just doesn't have chance.

It takes a 6 opening repertoire to build THE BRICK WALL. 3 openings with White and 3 openings with Black. 

You have reached a stage in your chess development(1600-1700) where it is going to take alot of hardwork and study to get alot better.

Before computers it took 8-10 years of study and memorization to build a 6 opening repertoire and become a Master(USCF 2200+)player.  The good news is with computers it only takes 3 years to do the same thing, because of computer software that used to be called "BookUp".

If you would like to know more go to: www.chessopeningswizard.com

Ask any player at chess.com rated 2200 or higher that you know. 

I hope this helps.

 When I started out I was real interested in the opening (because I was sick of losing to stupid traps). After awhile I just got standard replies I play to moves I see often. Would studying 6 openings thoroughly really push my game to the point where I can beat 1600-1700+ players as consistently as I can 1500 ones? I guess it couldn't hurt anyway... is there a good book you would recommend for this purpose? I'll check out that site, thanks. Oh and I imagine you'd want your opening repetoire to be kind of diverse? (like one king pawn, one queen and one neither?) Or should the three be somewhat similar so you can transpose?

 I guess I really have to study my losses more to answer that. It feels like I lose to all of those things but I'm sure I'm more prone to one and should start there. I think mostly I lose when I fail to see my opponents threats. Should I focus on tactics first then? Usually I survive the opening, and in favorable endings I'll blunder so my opponent can draw sometimes but most of the time I won't go and lose.

 Yeah I try to make games (on FICS) open only to 1500-1700 range. Usually it filters out the super good players and the real beginners. Yes I play with more confidence against lower rating, I guess that in itself could be a weakness.