How to Study in a Abnormal Slump

I had around 20 min; ispent a lot of time on f4 which was computer suggested.

Nb4 couldn't go anywhere while Ne3 could

That is possible to be my problem, but do you have any idea how i can improve upon that.  Thanks everyone for your comments!

0.45 is a good start but not enough to win on the 13th move.  Space is nice and your knight is better for now but two bishops and better king safety is something no matter what the computer says.    Do you have any games where you were up 2 or 3? 

If so and you are still lost, reduce or eliminate your opponents counterplay,, king safety, and endgame.

I think it is important to really understand why we make these types of decisions OTB.  What do you think about Ne3 now and if different why?     I think every player suffers the same problems.  We play better or equal then inexplicably play terribly.   Where that point is is a good indicator of rating.

If you get the advantage and then lose it, there could be two reasons:

1) not knowing how to convert the advantage;

2) tactical (this doesn't exclusively mean cheapo) problems with converting it.

For example, if you have an extra passed pawn and don't convert it into a queen or don't make it into a winning endgame, chances are you either aren't familiar with plans in such positions or you misplay somewhere on the way to victory. Likewise, if you have an advantage with an active position and a weak opponent's king and don't checkmate, you either don't know how to set up your attack or overlook some combination inbetween.

Look through your games where you were ahead and lost. Note the moment where you had advantage. Look through the moves afterwards. If your opponent surprised you with a strong move, then your weakness is tactical. Look for a better move you can play in that position, and if it leads you to a win, this is the case. If even the better move doesn't lead to a win or if your opponent didn't surprise you at all, the problem is you didn't know what plan was winning for you.

In both cases look for information about types of advantages and ways of converting them. I hope this helps.

Don't?

Chess is a hobby, it's not your job. 

Now I think Ne3 is a outright blunder.  I thought this slump was abnormal because the last around 5 tournaments my rating has only gone up and then suddenly it fell down

Thank You! That might be it, I will try that and see if it works.

Yeah, not knowing what to do with your advantage sounds right.  You said the computer said you had an advantage after Bd8... but what did you think OTB?  Your moves 15-18 say to me you didn't know how to continue.  Knowing how to play the position in front of you is more important than having some theoretical advantage.

Also, remember engines aren't always right.  Stockfish is giving 0.13 after Bd8.

Yes.  If it were me, I would want to figure out why OTB I decided that possible knight activity was more critical than king safety, lack of flight squares, weak dark squares, and an about to be opened a-file.

I also don't think you should be too hard on yourself on a +/-0.45 on move 13 and thinking you threw away a win.  The engine is clearly favoring space and a well placed central Knight. With neither side developed and black with two bishops in an open and queenless middle game, white will need to be very accurate to hold any advantage through to a won endgame.

Knowing what you want out of the opening is important.  You were equalish, but not clear sailing.

That game was definitely not my worst in my losing streak i lost to a 1400 and drew a 1200 and lost to a 1200.

Probably the hardest lesson is not to let ratings bother you.  I never asked a persons rating before a game.  I never felt it mattered, but I knew it mattered to them, especially when I got a draw offers before move 20. 

With no numbers greater than six in an ELO, it is pretty easy to be underrated.   

Maybe tactical blindness.  It happens.  Some days you're the hammer, some days the nail.

I know and follow a few strong masters.  If you think you have it bad, listen to them when they're in slumps and know there are probably never going to get an easy tournament game ever.  Truly, this game is cruel.  If I didn't like it, I would hate it.

justin show them ur game vs vincent

Are you playing the board, or the rating?

Yes, that is even the foundational epic of Western civilization.

I'm playing the board, but I have beat the 1400 and the 1200 before and was up the exchange against the 1200.

That is helpful, Thanks!