Poor psychology?
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:49 am
Before 2020 I'd been a reasonably stable 180+ player, generally beating people just below me, but never got so much as a half a point off anyone rated above 200. Then in early 2020 I had 4 such encounters. A classical win with white and then, in a rapid congress, a win against an FM with black, a draw with black, and then a draw against a GM with white in the final round. I thought I had finally broken some sort of ceiling.
Along came corona but I was still having many very good results against strong players online, but perhaps struggling against weaker ones.
A few weeks ago I played my first OTB rapid tournament. Round one was a draw with black against a 2300, rd 2 a white win against a 2380... and then I had three straight losses and two draws against players rated below 2000 (though many juniors so probably much better in reality).
My only attempt at an explanation is that I now lose focus when I am winning or think I ought to win, and conversely fight to the grim death when I expect to lose.
Had anyone had a similar experience and know how to cure this?
All advice gratefully received..
Along came corona but I was still having many very good results against strong players online, but perhaps struggling against weaker ones.
A few weeks ago I played my first OTB rapid tournament. Round one was a draw with black against a 2300, rd 2 a white win against a 2380... and then I had three straight losses and two draws against players rated below 2000 (though many juniors so probably much better in reality).
My only attempt at an explanation is that I now lose focus when I am winning or think I ought to win, and conversely fight to the grim death when I expect to lose.
Had anyone had a similar experience and know how to cure this?
All advice gratefully received..