Extreme Bouts of Chess Blindness

Hello, All!

I am studying chess a ton right now, and I am finding that studying for endless hours will cause chess blindness periodically.  It's like my brain can't see that moving my Q to a square will allow it to be taken.  I mean, we are talking about a sudden and extreme inability to see anything on the board.  Does anyone else experience this?  Typically, this will happen right before my ratings shoot up, so I guess I shouldn't complain.  Does anyone know what causes this (looking for a little more than "fatigue" as a response) or how to allay the symptoms?

Also, I noticed recently that playing and studying in these states will yield more peaking in my ability (tactics software ratings, etc.)  It's just so frustrating to deal with!

As one's ability to recognize tactical patterns becomes more subconscious (easy) the mind is free to explore more complicated position plans. When one is too confident with intuitive approaches to position (over reliance on subconsious / gut feelings especially in the opening) said overconfidence may create such blindness?

Takes time to integrate new knowledge and you may plateau or even go backwards until then.

This makes a lot of sense to me.  The mind is an amazing thing, and it is so hard to figure out what's going on in the learning process; but it really does seem that integration is what's going on.  I mean, I wake up fresh after multiple days (or weeks) of many hours of study, but it feels like I can't see anything, not even a one-move basic tactic.  It's crazy.  Seeing me play, you'd think that I am a far weaker player than I am.

Any suggestions on how to cope, or is it a matter of simply maintaining a positive mindset and working out the emotions?

Stop studying/playing?  Ain't nobody got time for dat --especially with the CCA World Open coming up.

I will take your suggestion on the added exercise.  I may also look into general mental recovery food suggestions and supplements (e.g., choline).  Meditation probably is good, in general, but may not be helpful in this case.  

One of the odd things I am noticing is that, rather then just seeing pieces move in my head before I go to sleep, I have been seeing positions in my head when I am waking up.  Does it mean anything?  I don't know, but it could be a sign that I need a lot more recuperation.  

Any other suggestions for making it through?

I start missing things after a while, too.  I found studying in shorter chunks and gradually working them up to longer periods a big help.  If I've been in Chess Tutor for quite a while and the next exercise leaves me going, "Buh...wha'?", it's time to take a short break.  You're brain is making new neural pathways while you're learning--it could probably use a little relaxation now and again. :)

As for seeing things in your head going to/awakening from sleep, anything'll do that if it's something you're focused on, especially if you're focusing on it right before bed.  I do it with chess, with music I'm learning, video games...pretty much anything.

Yeah, that's usually true for of things when I going to sleep.  Whatever it is I spend extreme amounts of time on pop up in my mind before sleep, but I have never had it happen when waking.  Waking up thinking about a subject matter is new for me.

i also get such blindness at times

What do you think causes it?

I think that when you don't clear your head occasionally your mind gets stuck in set patterns that are not conducive to playing flexibly and seeing all the possibilities.  So it pays to step away from the board occasionally and from chess thoughts in general.

I've experienced the same phenomenon when I play Scrabble. If I study word lists too much or play too much, my anagramming ability actually gets worse until I take a break and come back to the game later.  

I don't think you need to take a six week break as someone was suggesting.  Just take a day or two off.  Do this on a regular basis, say every week or every couple of weeks.  I think it's Dan Heisman who recommends putting off days on your calendar in advance.

@Milliern <--- Yes, I know exactly what you mean by "chess blindness".  Early in playing chess, I noticed I was playing on a decent level up to about 3-4 chess games (OTB). After about 4 games, I'd look at the layout on the board and nothing meant anything to me. It became a sort of saturation point.. 

I attributed it to the intensity of focus, and the mental/emotional toll that level of concentration had on the logic section of my mind.  Stepped back, regrouped, and realized I'd just reached my limit.  

Actually, that might be a very useful thing to note: chess blindness happens during intense single sessions, in the short term, as well as in long-term study.  If I have blips of chess blindness, it's because I did something absurd, like play over 20 hrs of blitz, study for 12+hrs, or play a single slow game for many, many hours (with no time limit against the computer).  These go away quickly, so I wonder if the same thing is happening in the long term.

It must be knowledge integration or something.

BTW, I have been reading about things that help recovery.  Foods like blueberries might be helpful, but on the roll choline plays in neurotransmitter production.   

You've played over 20 hours of blitz in a single day?

I had a dream about me playing chess last night. I think its because I play a lot of games recently. But I didnt experience chess blindness. Maybe you should reduce studying chess for a while and play some games just for fun.

Yeah, I used to wake up, go play at the chess club, go home, and keep playing online until I'd fall asleep.  I don't really have time to play every day, if I want to study and get my regular work done, so I have to get games in when I can.  On a day off, I go nuts.  I finished the Seven Circles program, remember? (http://milliern.com/2015/03/19/long-is-the-way-and-hard/)  That takes either dedication or obsession (or both).  Not that it is anywhere near the same kind of time commitment...

Wow.

I've gone without much sleep before, but still, 20 hours filled with chess seems exhausting.

The most I've played is about 10 hours non stop.

I have experienced this about 6 times a week.

tunnel vision?

Just can't see the obvious.