Really Bad Days

Sort:
MitSud
So I’ve had bad days in the past, but today really sucked, I’ve gone from a win over an international master and a 1908 rating yesterday, to a rating of 1806 and missing the most basic of tactics. I’m gonna stop playing, I think I’m just tired and I’m not focused or motivated to play.

What do you guys do when you have a crap day?
85_PorsheTurbo

I jump into a mirror and emerge fresh, in a parallel reality surrounding, where my rating is still suiting my own, subjective assessment of my level of ability. Everythings good. 

Usually, I can find portals. People in most parallel realities are accustomed to affirmation practices using those devices (mirrors)

Or sometimes you can face the monster of your missed most basic tactics, and cuddle it. He is a part of you.. The more real one.

 

Good luck.

Quiksilverau
chess.com is slightly rigged, to promote streaky play. once you figure out where you are in the rollercoaster and understand that there is nothing you can do once the algorithm decides youre going down 100 points, youll have a better time.

its boring knowing that after a good streak ill face 5-10 consecutive players rated ~100 below but playing 400+ above their rating. (hint: bots).

easiest way out is just to resign about 10 games in a row in a short time and itll let you out of the trap
Quiksilverau
also how did you go from ~1300 to ~1900 in a couple months?
ScootaChess

I watch the x files to reinforce the belief that a far reaching conspiracy is the reason for my losses

sambuca_20
The exact same thing happened to me the other day. I hit my all-time highest rating, 1717, but then almost immediately fell nearly below 1600. Thankfully, I believe I am recovering from that.

Anyways, what I do is just put the game away for a day, maybe two. Take a break, come back to the board with a new, determined, confident mindset. Once you get over your loss, you should be fine.
aaaaaaairlol
Quiksilverau wrote:
chess.com is slightly rigged, to promote streaky play. once you figure out where you are in the rollercoaster and understand that there is nothing you can do once the algorithm decides youre going down 100 points, youll have a better time.

its boring knowing that after a good streak ill face 5-10 consecutive players rated ~100 below but playing 400+ above their rating. (hint: bots).

easiest way out is just to resign about 10 games in a row in a short time and itll let you out of the trap

Does anyone know if true? Genuinely curious haha

sheetspread3

Time off from games usually works. You can study lessons and puzzles instead, and comment on the forums as a break.

president_max

watch this.  might make you feel better.

ScootaChess
cottonsock wrote:
Blimey, what planet are you from mate ? I suppose you also
believe in reincarnation as well .

Just joking around dude 

MitSud
This thread is a testament to chess.com forums, out of 14 comments about 3 answer my question lol.

To answer Quiksilverau’s question, for about a month I played 30 0 exclusively, practiced tactics and watched chess.com videos, worked with a 2000 rated coach and improved from about a 1400 playing strength to about 1700. Then I started playing blitz, and after a while i got back into blitz mode and eventually made my way up to 1800 blitz, then I had a really good day when I was extremely focused and made it to 1900 defeating an NM along the way, then I had one of them really bad days.......
MitSud
Also I’m 14 so extremely quick improvement I’m told is possible.
KeSetoKaiba

I have had these days a lot too; bonus points if internet connection was contributing to the losses. However, sometimes you just simply lose (as the original poster mentions). It is somewhat frustrating/disheartening to be on a roll until plummeting 100 or more points later that week (quitting after 2 or 3 in a row losses only does so much - as you simply continue the losses next time you log in).

The biggest help I can advise (difficult to follow sometimes though) is to simply not quit chess/continue to keep a love for the game (hard in a bad losing streak). However, this is the key to improvement long-term. Many people often quit just short of turning it around (not only for chess). I usually notice huge surges up in rating following huge droughts.

After my bad days, I try and remind myself that I am not becoming a worse chess player due to one bad day; I have not forgotten what I have learned - they are simply a few losses in a lifetime. No one will remember your exact losing streak years from now, but they will remember how much you improved.

After playing poorly (online or not), I try to remember that when I play an important game (usually OTB) - ratings mean nothing. I mean that a GM or me have the same chance at winning a chess game wink.png at the start of the game; it is only into the game (after blunders or inaccuracies) that a GM excels and I do not. In other words, rating goes out the window in a chess game. Rating is an estimate of who will win in advance - but in a game anything could POTENTIALLY happen (it is just that GMs will find it more likely).

GM_Parzival1
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

I have had these days a lot too; bonus points if internet connection was contributing to the losses. However, sometimes you just simply lose (as the original poster mentions). It is somewhat frustrating/disheartening to be on a roll until plummeting 100 or more points later that week (quitting after 2 or 3 in a row losses only does so much - as you simply continue the losses next time you log in).

The biggest help I can advise (difficult to follow sometimes though) is to simply not quit chess/continue to keep a love for the game (hard in a bad losing streak). However, this is the key to improvement long-term. Many people often quit just short of turning it around (not only for chess). I usually notice huge surges up in rating following huge droughts.

After my bad days, I try and remind myself that I am not becoming a worse chess player due to one bad day; I have not forgotten what I have learned - they are simply a few losses in a lifetime. No one will remember your exact losing streak years from now, but they will remember how much you improved.

After playing poorly (online or not), I try to remember that when I play an important game (usually OTB) - ratings mean nothing. I mean that a GM or me have the same chance at winning a chess game  at the start of the game; it is only into the game (after blunders or inaccuracies) that a GM excels and I do not. In other words, rating goes out the window in a chess game. Rating is an estimate of who will win in advance - but in a game anything could POTENTIALLY happen (it is just that GMs will find it more likely).

 

RobertLusty
Quiksilverau wrote:
chess.com is slightly rigged, to promote streaky play. once you figure out where you are in the rollercoaster and understand that there is nothing you can do once the algorithm decides youre going down 100 points, youll have a better time.
 
Right on, I'm glad I'm not the first to come to this conclusion. I don't believe this bio-rhythm, cycle of the moon crap. If I won once, I can do it again short of algorithm intervention.

its boring knowing that after a good streak ill face 5-10 consecutive players rated ~100 below but playing 400+ above their rating. (hint: bots).

easiest way out is just to resign about 10 games in a row in a short time and itll let you out of the trap

 

Taz-Devil

Would you guys consider - next to puzzles and lessons - any fun-chess-modes to play?

Like knowing you wont hit your high bar today and just want to "push some pawns over the board", without loosing points or getting wrecked totally?

redghost101
Automate is cool, but you need beta
EBowie

I find when I'm having really bad days it's often due to too much playing.  It sounds counter-intuitive but I think of it as chess burnout.  I start moving too automatically and start to neglect to actually study the position.  If I force myself to take a break for a little bit it really helps.  Another thing is when on a losing streak my mindset changes from "make good moves" to "gotta win the game" and that is a recipe for disaster.

a5page

Same, my solution is to lose every game (and try not to be banned for sandbagging) and then crush some noobs and you will feel great - that mindset shall separate you from the casual 1600 rated players because you have adapted a killer mindset - beat these scrubs. If you attempted the above and it didn’t work. YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK! Don’t look or interact with a chessboard or play a game for at least 2 days and you will come back feeling refreshed and ready to improve.

Sharingan_No_Kakashi

Take a break, forget about chess for a bit, and come back to it when you feel refreshed! grin.png