I've been here before. One minute I can't stop winning chess games and before I know it, I couldn't win a raffle if I'd bought all the tickets.
The surprising thing is my acl seems to remain at similar levels whether I am winning or losing - give or take the odd complete disaster.
Oh well there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it.
Me too. My rating graph is like a rollercoaster. Some days I will lose 200 points, then recover right after. But it already stopped disturbing me, I be like yep this happened before.
Same conclusion I've come to -- and that's why I play for fun.
Outside of a natural ebb-and-flow to things (day-to-day, personal cycles, etc) ... each of us has good days, and each of us has bad days. (And, in every day, we have good games, bad games, etc.)
Sometimes, no matter studying, each of us have our limits. (Even professionals have their limits. Many who strive for top-tier never make it. Some come close, others fall short. And a select few get to that level -- usually without trying too much or too hard; natural talent; or developed talent where limitations can be overcome.)
Ain't nothing wrong with it, other than using a "raffle" as an analogy. The average or common man plays the "raffle" (or, lottery). That's why we like counting numbers like our longest winning or losing streak.
How's your long-game?
@MrCharles My long game was in reasonable shape. I play in four leagues for a team in England and I have played for the county. I didn't play at all last season and am now preparing for the new season which starts in September.
I'm just feeling my way back into chess after an enforced break and I must admit I feel quite fresh for the break.
I'm basically, playing on here, doing a few tactics, endgames and learning a few key master games. I'll be doing this for the next month. July and August will be spent purely doing chess training and playing longer games. I'll then analyse those without a computer.
I'm happy just improving my chess, bit like everyone just get fed up at the inconsistent results though the approach seems to be consistent.
This weekend has been a long weekend in England as we have had our end of May bank holiday so maybe I just overdid it a little.
My question was meant to be rhetorical (self analysis).
I know what you mean...
It's like all of a sudden I am playing GM's no matter the rating, and then nothing but patzers… I would think it an odd coincidence, but there is a pattern, and the pattern seems to prevail at most chess sites, i.e., not just here. Mean while my rating fluctuates within a particular set of high and lows...
@wolfs-sleeve That's exactly what I mean. This inconsistency doesn't stop being irritating though.
I do not like the term Patzer, seems a bit derogatory, but nonetheless:
Playing Patzers can actually bite you in the backside, they play erratic and unconventional moves which can lead to a sudden swing in match if you are not paying attention due to them being rated 400+ below you.
@Oxytocinblb I would not worry about it too much, you took a year away from the game, so it's understandable you're not on your A-Game, imagine if an athlete took a year off, their times would be destroyed, the same logic applies, I believe.
Chess is DIFFICULT. It's also MERCILESS. Not for the faint hearted!
If you are not a professional , relax and enjoy!
Don't play too many games in a row. You'll exhaust yourself. Play hard, but take breaks harder.