How to stop losing focus OTB?

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Marcus-101

So yesterday I played a game otb standard play game (The time control was 90mins) and I believe I was not very focused. I won, however both I and my opponent made some disastrous blunders. In comparison with some of the blitz games that I play I am completely focused and I play probably an equal, if not fewer, amount of blunders than otb (I actually managed to beat a FM, rated 2200 in a 3 0 blitz game recently. I know I would have stood no chance against him otb). I find it contrary that I am so focused and tactical in my blitz games but not when I play otb with longer time controls, when I miss the most basic of moves. I have a theory that I lose focus because when the game seems to be more positional, or while I'm still in the opening I don't think as much about the moves. However I'm really not sure and any views on this are welcome.

So anyway, here's the game. Any analysis would be nice, I haven't been through it thoroughly with Fritz yet (I only analysed 1 or 2 moves with it). 

(btw, before someone asks, the ratings are not FIDE or USCF, they are ECF. The standard converter is ECF*8+650=FIDE so my FIDE rating would be around 1450 and my opponents is 1842)

I know full well it was a very lucky win and that my opponent was crushing me after that b5 move. So what I really want some views on is why I lost my focus at the points that I did and how I played some such awful blunders. I wasn't particularly nervous at this time.

The other thing that I find strange is that my rapid (ECF) rating is 130, while my standard play is 100. This is wierd because I am 50-60 points lower than some of my friends in standard play but about equal in rapid. Either I am just very strong at rapid play or there is something holding me back in my standard play games. I hope it to be the latter, because maybe once I realise what it is that is holding me back my standard play games will see a great improvement.

Marcus-101

bump

Fromper

Agreed with Estragon. To improve overall as a chess player, you need to practice regularly at both slow and fast time controls. One or the other isn't good enough. I learned that the hard way after years of avoiding blitz. Now I play some blitz regularly, and it actually does help me get better at slow play.

As for your blitz vs standard ratings, that's probably a result of you being used to going so fast. Whatever you play more is what you'll be better at.

And I doubt your claim that you blunder less in blitz. You probably just don't notice your blunders as much, because they go by so quickly. And your opponents don't always notice them and punish them, either, again because they don't have as much time to notice them.

Marcus-101
Estragon wrote:

You play far too much blitz and bullet and not enough at slower controls.  The way to improve focus and concentration is to practice them, and all you are doing with speed chess is getting a little adrenalin rush like a video game.

Maybe. It's difficult to get games on chess.com at longer time controls though

Without going into deep analysis, I immediately spotted the senseless Knight foray ...Nc6-b4?  Why are you moving a piece twice voluntarily when your development is incomplete?  It is a pure waste of time, and time is too precious to throw around chasing the Bishop pair so early in the game.


I played this because I was relying on my opponent moving the bishop again and then playing h6, which are the two tempos I moved the knight with. Also I thought the bishop on b1 would trap the rook in on a1, so he would have to use more tempos getting it out.

Also, the King Knight most often belongs at f5, not g6, it is a much stronger square and controls more important squares.

Naturally I wanted to move my knight to f5 but after Bxf5 exf5  a6 Nc6, d5 is hanging and I needed to develop my kingside and castle.

Marcus-101

Thanks you guys for the advice though, I think I'm going to admit (particularly to myself) that I need to play more longer games....