What do you do when you can't seem to concentrate? When tactics problems you'd normally penetrate and solve don't work because you can't go deep? When you throw away practice games you would normally have won because of a momentary lapse? JMHO - Rather than trying to force yourself to "tough it out" or quit in anger; try shifting gears a bit. Get into your database and start playing over GM games from your chosen openings; don't try to get into deep analysis, just set up your board and play through the games at a medium / slow pace, reading through any annotations (if there are any) Making these mechanical moves will not only help you relearn many helpful and half forgotten lines you can use in tournament play, but can help rekindle your enthusiasm, and with it, the energy to "go deep" This has helped me recently, maybe it will help some of you too.
- and it's better than doing nothing. 🙂
I think you need to detach yourself from Master play and focus on being an intermediate player first.
Get there before you assume you understand Master play.
Anyone under 1800 has no idea what a GM or a Master is doing.
On the 3 big sites I am 1850+ at 10 minute games and I have never assumed I was smart enough to understand Master play.
You seem to assume you do.
That is your problem.
@gratis-pawn saidThank You for pointing out "my problem" However I once competed successfully at the 1700 level (USCF) before leaving the OTB game for 2 1/2 decades, and I'll get there again (and more). I suggested playing through GM games to recharge, not to try to understand every facet of GM play.
I think you need to detach yourself from Master play and focus on being an intermediate player first.
Get there before you assume you understand Master play.
Anyone under 1800 has no idea what a GM or a Master is doing.
On the 3 big sites I am 1850+ at 10 minute games and I have never assumed I was smart enough to understand Master play.
You seem to assume you do.
That is your problem.
And (with all due respect to your class A status) I still think it's better than doing nothing. 😉
@mchill saidI disagree that "doing nothing" is a bad idea. Take a week off chess study and come back to it fresh. What you've described in your OP sounds like a brain needing a break.
What do you do when you can't seem to concentrate? When tactics problems you'd normally penetrate and solve don't work because you can't go deep? When you throw away practice games you would normally have won because of a momentary lapse? JMHO - Rather than trying to force yourself to "tough it out" or quit in anger; try shifting gears a bit. Get into your database and start p ...[text shortened]... elped me recently, maybe it will help some of you too.
- and it's better than doing nothing. 🙂
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@deepthought saidExactly what I thought as well, we all need a break from everything from time to time.
I disagree that "doing nothing" is a bad idea. Take a week off chess study and come back to it fresh. What you've described in your OP sounds like a brain needing a break.