Odd chess slump

About a week ago, I experienced this chess boost in which I began playing against (on another server mind you) and beating (or blundering into a draw)players 100-200 points higher than myself. This was very invigorating, as I have been taking personal lessons weekly, and studying daily. It's good to see that one's efforts truly pay off, in the chess world. However, about 3 days ago, I hit this horrendous slump, in which I began losing to players 50 points lower than my current rating. I'm not sure what to think of it. At first I assumed that I was just playing tired, and that I should get some rest before going back to it. Sadly, rest hasn't helped much. Has anyone else undergone such a sharp upward spike followed by a disastrous slump? If so, can you lend me any advice?

-I won't stop playing chess, I've tried that, and I'm beginning to convince myself that the answer lies within more effort, not less.

thanks

The more you play the more you'll lose

I agree, we have not had nearly enough odd chess lately.

I give queen odds.

I've experienced this, and I have no idea what causes it to go away. Rather depressing, really :(

u need to experience 14 games losing streak before u know what a slump is all about!

Thank you for your post as it shows that it happens to someone else too!!! At one, stage my chess rating was upto 1600+. But at that stage, I was not in a group, just playing 3 day chess against a friend. Since joining a group, several in fact, my rating slumped to below 1600 and at one stage got to as low as 1495. Some of the matches I played in was 1 day chess, which I hated, because, with my work schedule, I was playing this fast paced game tired and making stupid mistakes. Now my rating is back up to 1532, as I have stopped playing 1 day chess.

What I find useful though, is the chess analysis, where I look at the game(s) I have played, whether it is lost or won, to see if I could have played a better move, reviewing the comments in the chess forums such as not playing the same piece in consecutive moves. What this has pointed out is I have either a terrible middle game and/or a poor end game. But these can be worked on, by doing chess mentor.

The thing is, never give up and practice, practice, practice!!!

OK - don't all boo me at once for saying this publicly but, hey, I'm a gonna bare my back side. Last week (roughly) I had a four or five game losing streak in which I gave away my queen in every game. I don't mean had it pinned, tricked, trapped, I mean it went awhoring. Damn thing.

You'll all be glad to know, because I know you're on the edge of your seat, that this week, in blitz chess, I've lately been playing much better. I'm losing on time, but playing real strong.

Difference???? I've been studying opposition in the end game. I have heard from many good players that to learn chess you need to learn the end game first. There's something about the tactics in the end game that drop perfectly in place over the whole game. it's beautiful.

finally - don't sweat it. Try to have fun no matter what.

I had the same thing happen - shot up to the 1600s quick on this site, then into the 1700s without too much trouble, then finally hit 1800!

Then tanked like the Titanic down to the 1600s again... am back up again to the upper 1700s but feeling another suckfest coming on...

I appreciate all the serious comments. I find that I may have to agree with spaghetti, as I may have diagnosed my problem. i've been playing extremely quick; too fast. after the ego boost of beating some higher rated players, I've been paying less attention to my moves, and moving quicker. I just finished a game with someone 150 pts stronger than my rating, and I lost on time in a drawn position. So, for anyone feeling the same sortof slump, maybe slowing down is the answer. .....I'm also glad I'm not the only one going through this...

Variance.

Random bad streak + whatever player happens to be doing at the time = belief that whatever player was doing caused bad streak.

Then whatever they are doing when good streak comes = belief that it causes the good streak.

I think in a lot of things this happens. You feel yourself getting worse and then you bounce back.

Can I suggest looking for a patten. are you losing with black or white? are you losing to d4 or e4. Is it in the opening, middlegame or endgame. Are you getting outplayed or making stupid mistakes (no offence we all do it) Is it a time issue playing too fast or too slow. This could be a real opportunity to find a basic flaw in your chess which if corrected could lead to another upswing. Good luck anyway, let us know how it goes.

This is like a group-therapy forum!

I have the exact same thing happening every time I am close to surpassing a certain 100s. It happened on 1300s and on 1400s too. I just stop progressing, lose some ground and then, after recovering from the rating vertigo, I surpass that rating and keep going. Strange and funny too! Like rock climbing (lol)

I think that the solution lies within the famous whiskey slogan: "Keep walking"!

I'm still in mid grade and picked up chess a year ago as my extra curricular activity. I learned that losing too many games in a row isn't all that serious (unless you aspire to become a GM). I used it as a tool to sharpen my skill and tactics. learning what went wrong and where. My games depends on my mood. i have beaten players 200 plus above me but also lost to less rated players. my point swing is plus/minus 150 in any given month. i still lose much of my game on time but in a winning position against stronger players. keeping that in mind, i know i'm playing well...well, i beat all the boys in my school chess club. I could at least erase those smirks off their faces. lol. My teacher says, use the chess discipline in life...and never forget to smile and have fun!

Isabela makes a good point  - "I use it as a tool to sharpen my skill and tactics". There is a gold mine of information in lost games.

We are human beings and have to remember we are all capable of losing as well as winning.  I have dropped 100 rating points a few weeks ago which is very annoying but it is slowly going up again, I am sure many people have had the same; I could play a brilliant game one day against a 2000 rated player and another day I play very badly against a 1500, but one thing for sure is not to give up, good attitude; if you love chess it makes recovery easier and personally; it allows me to understand my faults and somewhat appreciate them. :-)