I have lost 10 rapid games in a row. What is wrong with me.

I have now lost my 10th game, I'm about to give up. What do you guys do to improve when you are on a losing streak?

It was only nine games. 

Everyone has bad days. Keep trying.

I don't know.

Finally broke the curse: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/31867208041

That wasn't bad.

All I can say is:  I feel your pain.  At least they were mostly against higher-rated opponents!

So you know that everyone have losing-strikes... so nothing is wrong with you - you're just like everyone.

To improve, I watch Naroditsky's speedruns on Youtube. he's good !

@Monica_Vitti

Play slower time controls, don't get distracted, and think of candidate moves.

Bird and Dutch are not good openings for beginners. Try playing Queen's Gambit and Italian Game.

I totally get you.  It can feel totally demoralising.  I can't answer your question on what to do tactically to start winning games when on a losing streak but hopefully what I have to say below helps make you feel a bit better. 

I started playing chess at the start of 2021 (aged 43) and my aim was to reach 1000 rapid by the end of 2021.  After getting to 900 a few weeks ago I thought I may manage it.  However, I went on a long run of defeats (so much so I was close to going below 800 again never mind reaching 1000).  I then stabilised things a bit by drawing and winning some games but will not reach 1000 this year (if at all).  I am beginning to wonder if I have gone as far as I can go just by learning the game myself and doing the weekly lessons on chess.com (I don't know any openings / tactics etc and just "go with the flow in each game" trying to avoid hanging pieces etc).  Once I got over 900 my opponents seemed so much harder to play against.  The same applies to puzzles where I seem to have levelled out.  I don't have the time to really study the game in depth (e.g. memorising different openings), nor do I take it that seriously (or have the time) so as to get a coach or premium account.

All I can say is to try and not let a drop in your rating after lots of consecutive defeats diminish your enjoyment of the game.   Just try and enjoy each individual game and don't be too concerned about your rating.  It is just a game after all.  I totally appreciate from personal experience that this is easier said than done!  Also, if your rating means a lot to you (as it unfortunately does to me even although I wish it didn't) it may help if you look at the long-term picture.  For example, despite my recent hiccup (which I still haven't recovered from), if you look at my rapid rating graph since I started playing, it shows a gradual improvement over the long term, as opposed to its recent big drop short term.  However, I realise that it will soon level off long term as everyone has a limit to how high they can get.

The way the site works for me - when customising a game I only play players within 100 points either side of my rating - is if you keep getting beaten (so your rating drops quickly ) your opponents become easier and more suited to your level so you should eventually break a losing streak.  After all if I was to play a grandmaster 1000 times in a row I would obviously get beat 1000 times in a row.

Finally, assuming you still enjoy chess as a game in its own right don't let a lot of consecutive defeats make you give up.  It is (for us who don't play professionally etc) just a game after all and our livelihoods don't depend on it.

1. Monica_Vitti wrote:

   Finally broke the curse: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/31867208041

   You did really good! You’ll improve.

No chess advice, but I loved you in L'Avventura and La Notte!

I asked a similar question a couple of days ago (how do I improve.) A bunch of cool people gave me some good advice. Which I will try. (You and I are on about the same level).

1: Play longer games and study the moves. (In truth I won't do this unless its a last resort. Busy life so Rapid suites me.

2: Puzzle Rush in survial mode (Din't even know about this one...). Its awesome

3: Play low-rated bots. (I was playing the same hard-core  bot (1,500) who would crush me each time. I was 0-20. Not sure why I thought this would help me. Starting with low rated bots and moving up after a win is way better advice that I got.

4: Pick up a good chess book.

5: No one recommended this but I am going to do this: If I start tilting I will bail but if I NEED to play cause I am fiending, I will play a bot so it won't affect my score.

I sit there and cry. Alternatively when I'm more clear-headed, i go out for a walk and refrain from playing chess the rest of the day.

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a respected  chess coach and chess YouTuber based in California: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP5SPSG_sWSYPjqJYMNwL_Q

Do something else besides chess. In other words, take a break.   Then play when my mind is fresh.  

Plot twist. You turned out to be the guy inflicting the 10th defeat instead.

I lost 120 rating in a week... I hop it is a phase

hope*

Just take a break for a few days and you will start to win again.

I have had streaks of 14 consecutive rated blitz losses, so this is nothing to worry about