Your Chess Skills

How do you know whether you are getting better at Chess or getting worse?

For better: Beyond the obvious "your rating  in whatever format you play chess in gets better" answer, a few others:

- You're scalping higher-rated players in slow/serious games.
- Consistently beating lower-rated players (allowing no comebacks from won games)
- Seeing single and double-motif tactical shots within seconds on the board.
- You're realizing this game just keeps getting tougher :)

If you were to look at a game you played a month/year ago and "cannot" believe you used to play that way ... I guess that's a sign as well!

You know you're getting better when you're not playing like me; you're giving 100% effort to your chess games instead of only 10%

I feel I am getting better.

I am learning that there is no such thing as a 'free piece'. Nobody sacrifices any piece without a gain for themselves.

I am seeing moves ahead and either countering them or preventing them.

There will be the odd lapse (like me), but when I eliminate those lapses, I know I will get better.

I will know that I have improved  when  I think long enough that I time out in a 150 minute game(per person).