Why do losing streaks happen?

Yes, that's close too. Win 10 games against 500 rateds, then lose 10 against 700 rateds.

Losing streaks (and winning streaks to an extent) seem to be self-reinforcing.  So I seem to be more likely to lose if I have just lost a game and vice versa.  I can also often spot if I am playing someone on a losing streak; they often bang out moves, than make a simple mistake and resign quickly rather than playing on.  I can see the same mentality I have myself - oh there I go again with my stupid moves - may as well give up and try again - it will be better next time and so on.

The best cure is to stop playing.  Maybe for five minutes, or an hour, or a day or however long it takes till you are thinking straight again.  That's what I try to do.

Maybe an easy way to break  a loosingstreak is to win. Play a game against a player rated 500 or 1000 below you, and  get familiar with winning again.

I did play agains a 1100 lower rated player last week, I dropped a bishop early in a miscalculated combination, but was able to hold pressure and win.

I find my losing streaks occur at 2am.  I wonder why? ;)

(ColonelKnight) Why do winning streaks happen ? Are we being thankful for those ?....and if we can control our losses the win will take care of themselves........

When we finish a loosing streak, the rating falls, and then we gets easier opposition, and we pick up something from they who trash us, use this, and  starts the winning streak with more skills.

If you are rated 1500, and loose ten games you might fall to 1400, but with experience against 1500-1600 players, so then the winning strak maybe push you up to 1520, and then down to 1450, and then up to 1550.