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How to stop losing winning positions!

the late IM Khosrow Harandi, one of the pioneers of Iranian chess, had a saying: the game is not over until your opponent stops the clock and extends their hand.

the late IM Khosrow Harandi, one of the pioneers of Iranian chess, had a saying: the game is not over until your opponent stops the clock and extends their hand.

If it only was that easy! The key here is to understand that just telling someone "do this" or "do not do that" is not the solution.
For example, the author states:

"STOP YOUR ILLUSIONS! When you are winning, think instead: "The game is not over. I still have to be aware and calculate. Don't lose your patience, and play as if the position was balanced. Your evaluation of the position should not change your mindset."

Telling chess players this does not mean they will be able to do it. It is like telling someone with short temper: "Don't lose your temper". The problem lies in lack of constant real time awareness of one's state of mind. In other words, the chess player needs to develop the skill of being aware of what is going on in their head at all times. This needs phycological intervention.

If it only was that easy! The key here is to understand that just telling someone "do this" or "do not do that" is not the solution. For example, the author states: "STOP YOUR ILLUSIONS! When you are winning, think instead: "The game is not over. I still have to be aware and calculate. Don't lose your patience, and play as if the position was balanced. Your evaluation of the position should not change your mindset." Telling chess players this does not mean they will be able to do it. It is like telling someone with short temper: "Don't lose your temper". The problem lies in lack of constant real time awareness of one's state of mind. In other words, the chess player needs to develop the skill of being aware of what is going on in their head at all times. This needs phycological intervention.

@BloodFlowMaster I'm just presenting the main reasons why we make such blunders. And trust me, taking deep breaths or trying to relax whenever your emotions take the lead can avoid many blunders. Of course, it won't work in every situation, but it might be very helpful. That's a tip my coach gave me, and I applied it many times with success. When I started to get stressed during a game, I just took a little walk and came back with a fresh mind. Also, ask yourself the right questions: have I double-checked for tactics or not? If you multiply these small habits, it can avoid you a lot of pain.

@BloodFlowMaster I'm just presenting the main reasons why we make such blunders. And trust me, taking deep breaths or trying to relax whenever your emotions take the lead can avoid many blunders. Of course, it won't work in every situation, but it might be very helpful. That's a tip my coach gave me, and I applied it many times with success. When I started to get stressed during a game, I just took a little walk and came back with a fresh mind. Also, ask yourself the right questions: have I double-checked for tactics or not? If you multiply these small habits, it can avoid you a lot of pain.

You are absolutely right! But you managed to do this because you recognised that you were getting stressed, so you were aware of your mind state. You are acquiring the skill of self-awareness and well done for this! Many chess players mind is trapped in turmoil during a game and failure to recognise this leads to blunders.

You are absolutely right! But you managed to do this because you recognised that you were getting stressed, so you were aware of your mind state. You are acquiring the skill of self-awareness and well done for this! Many chess players mind is trapped in turmoil during a game and failure to recognise this leads to blunders.

@BloodFlowMaster That's why I advise in this blog to take the habit of asking yourself questions regularly during the game, so you can develop self-awareness. But I agree that this process takes time.

@BloodFlowMaster That's why I advise in this blog to take the habit of asking yourself questions regularly during the game, so you can develop self-awareness. But I agree that this process takes time.

I think the most painful is mouse sliping actually, and we can't avoid of it

I think the most painful is mouse sliping actually, and we can't avoid of it

I played a youth U18 Federal State Championship in Germany. I was paired against the first seed and I knew that I was better then my raiting. I played the best game of my life defending a very tough benoni like position like an engine. At the start of the endgame just when I thought I might just take over the Game I blunderd Mate in 2 on a level of 2200. Painful experience but since then I did not hung mate so far

I played a youth U18 Federal State Championship in Germany. I was paired against the first seed and I knew that I was better then my raiting. I played the best game of my life defending a very tough benoni like position like an engine. At the start of the endgame just when I thought I might just take over the Game I blunderd Mate in 2 on a level of 2200. Painful experience but since then I did not hung mate so far

On sent le joueur qui a de l'expérience dans les gaffes et les maladresses !
Un joueur trés sincére ! Bravo!
J'ai personnellement souvent une peur panique de mal jouer, cela explique beaucoup mes maladresses.
J'ai un bien meilleur ELO en temps long enfin de plus de 10 minutes qu'en temps court voire flash.
Je m'acharne pourtant à jouer du flash ou du rapide de 5 minutes car je me dis que ça va m'améliorer, mais ça n'améliore rien du tout et ça me décourage !
Joueur aux echecs c'est vraiment une épreuve, ça va si vite pour perdre !!!

On sent le joueur qui a de l'expérience dans les gaffes et les maladresses ! Un joueur trés sincére ! Bravo! J'ai personnellement souvent une peur panique de mal jouer, cela explique beaucoup mes maladresses. J'ai un bien meilleur ELO en temps long enfin de plus de 10 minutes qu'en temps court voire flash. Je m'acharne pourtant à jouer du flash ou du rapide de 5 minutes car je me dis que ça va m'améliorer, mais ça n'améliore rien du tout et ça me décourage ! Joueur aux echecs c'est vraiment une épreuve, ça va si vite pour perdre !!!

@david23232323 I feel like we all have to go through that in order to become good players, even if it hurts a lot. Experience is really what matters the most in this game. Thank you for sharing your experience.

@david23232323 I feel like we all have to go through that in order to become good players, even if it hurts a lot. Experience is really what matters the most in this game. Thank you for sharing your experience.