How to get out of a slump

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ashishs1256

I mainly play rapid chess, so this is the rating I am focused on. I feel like my rating is just stuck between 950-1000 (I know it is really low, but I am not such an experienced player). Any tips as to how to try and get out of this slump?

Nwap111

probably you heard it before: learn various tactical themes. Find them in your own games.

KeSetoKaiba

I had a similar problem a few months ago and I created a similar forum to this one that ended up getting some helpful feedback - here is the link if it helps happy.png https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/why-is-my-rating-dropping In short, rating ups and downs are not only normal - but really inevitable by the way the rating system works. Personally, I find that I tend to have my worst slumps right before my rating skyrockets to a new height; I think some of the comments in my forum may be insightful.

ashishs1256
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

I had a similar problem a few months ago and I created a similar forum to this one that ended up getting some helpful feedback - here is the link if it helps https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/why-is-my-rating-dropping In short, rating ups and downs are not only normal - but really inevitable by the way the rating system works. Personally, I find that I tend to have my worst slumps right before my rating skyrockets to a new height; I think some of the comments in my forum may be insightful.

Thank you for that. I’ll have to try some of the tactics in that forum.

AlisonHart

You've just started, so you're not even in a rating slump, you're settling in to a beginner's rating (which is typically 800 - 1000). Relax, and follow the advice that people give to every beginner: 

 

Learn your basic tactics

Reinforce with puzzles

Learn your basic endgames

Reinforce with puzzles

Learn your opening principles

Reinforce with master games

 

Until you do these things, your rating won't go up. Also, you need to sit down and focus on one thing for a good period of time.....yesterday, you were asking about pawn structure (a really deep subject), but today - instead of studying ideas with pawns - you're wondering about an opening line and whether your rating should go up.

 

Your rating goes up when study and practice meet, not before. Study, practice, and it will go up by itself, I promise. 

ChessianHorse
Do tactics and do them the right way. You spend less than 10 seconds on average and get most of them wrong. Don‘t move until you looked at all responses by your opponent and you are still thinking you have the right move. Also, if you get one wrong, analyze it until you understand why your solution was wrong and what the correct solution is