It's true that physical strength doesn't win games but you in a good shape otherwise. As Bobby Fisher said:
"I perform as well as my body does. You can not separate your body from your mind."
What if it happens already in first games of the day? After a good sleep. Without any distractions or the like.
Generally for me, when I'm on a bad streak, I can link it back to not having had enough sleep over the previous few nights. In Blitz the difference for me is 100 points or so.
So getting bad results for me is a sign to sleep more.
This usually happens when there are outside distractions (stressing over exams, being in a bad mood, etc.). Usually taking a shower or going for a walk allows me to have a better mindset
Physical fitness is grossly UNDERestimated and under-appreciated in chess, music and everywhere else.
When Fischer was the first GM to box, swim laps etc. the fat smokers GMs of his era were confused and didn’t understand why they blunder in the endgame when they play him... Botvinnik actually wrote: “I don’t understand why top players blunder in the endgame when they play Fischer” etc.
This shows how little people understood about exercise and healthy lifestyle. Think about it: Botvinnik was actually surprised that someone with great cardio and tons of endurance doesn’t blunder, while a fat ill out of shape smoker gets tired after 2 hours and starts to blunder in the endgame. LOL what a big surprise that is...
I also noticed many times that when some chess GM surges in the ratings it’s always accompanied by him losing weight, dressing better, and fixing his facial hair etc. As the most obvious example, Carlsen is much more athletic than his peers.
In classical music when a soloist needs to perform a major 40 minute concerto endurance is absolutely essential. I ran 40 minutes daily in the snow and rain when I had to do that stuff. Only then did I feel that I can survive to the last page of my piece without forgetting some notes and losing accuracy, not to mention massive reduction in anxiety and stage fright - another benefit of exercise.
I agree about the benefits of exercise and living in an overall healthy body in chess. I practice exercise an am overall a pretty healthy guy, although chess isn't really my motivation for that sort of lifestyle :D. I understand that that helps, but as Kusokosla himself correctly said, fitness seems to give slight edges, mainly at the top level of play. Again, those "fat, ill, smoker Russian GMs" were still very, very strong GMs. Many of them were World Champion level, and they would easily crush any of us who are discussing this topic here :) . Mind you, Fischer was a league ahead of them of course, but they were no pushovers. At the same time, there are many fit 2200 players who never reach past that ceiling... So I understand the value of fitness, but I would disagree with the statement that fitness is underestimated in chess, I would in fact argue that it is overestimated in modern chess. Mainly, I believe, due to Carlsen winning many games after his less fit opponent blunders in the 6th or 7th hour of play. And this is a valid concern, but how often do YOUR games last 6 hours? Mine almost never last longer than 4.
take a week long break from everything chess.
