It seems like no matter how well I manage to play I just blunder and all that work becomes meaningless. I'm tired of playing well and then just crapping it all away because of some random move i didn't see. I don't see the point in doing all that work to build up a nice positon and develop my pieces if no matter how well I play I will just lose to a tactic, especially if my opponent doesn't even have to play half as well as I do to win.
I just can't be motivated to play anymore and I don't really know what to do about it.
First off, blundering tapers off with experience (not entirely, I'm an expert, and still all the time, mostly in time pressure). Secondly, it's not true that "no matter how well I play I will just lose to a tactic." Tactics are part of the game, and you aren't playing well in the first place if your opponents can "play half as well" as you do and still win. If blundering isn't alright with you and you can't handle it, quit chess. Seriously, it's that simple. It'll never go away. No matter what the cause of your blunder (for me, they come almost exclusively in extreme time trouble, which is also my fault) it is always your fault. Don't try to attribute it to some "random" move, it's entirely your fault, nobody else's. You've got to learn that, if nothing else. You ok with that? Good, suck it up, pay more attention to the consequences of your moves, and try to figure out the plans behind your opponents moves. You not ok with that? Good, stop playing.
Maybe you should turn on confirm move so you can see how the board looks now before you actually lock in the move. Practice your visualization skills, that might help: Look up at the clouds and imagine what they look like, etc.
There is a saying about playing 39 good moves and blundering on move 40. Also in the age of engines we know that it's possible to defend a garbage position as long as it's tactically safe. I'm not saying that all my moves are good or that my opponents defend like engines. But if i can play a bunch of good moves and then throw it all away because of one mistake regardless of what my opponent is doing then what's the point in even trying? Why invest into something so frail? Isn't it like building a house on sand and hoping it won't fall down? Why even bother at all?
it's more like building a house on a good foundation, but then you do something dumb and the room is on fire the house is on fire YOU ARE ON FIRE AAAAAAAAHHHHH
This is what Lightsss is talking about.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rau_SERMJEUOn a more serious note. I am very well known for getting a decent position out of the opening and sometimes infact winning against people 2000-2100 and then I literally hang everything in one move. Not so often in long games but in quick 5m games this is common. VERY common.
The point why bother is not a question you should ever ask yourself. Its a matter of are you going to succeed or fail. If you give up after 1 blunder following 39 good moves or even better yet 39 excellent moves isn't it a good point to learn from? Fix your errors and get back out there. My mentor (who will remain nameless) would never even for a second tolerate me saying that about anything. I think I would be out of a job and on the streets.
'If I'm going to die, what's the point in even living?'
Well said Neverness.
"If I'm Going To Blunder What's The Point In Even Playing?"
Cause blunders are a part of chess, and your opponent makes them too.
Most blunders stem from lack of concentration: either fatigue or loss of interest in the game. Especially in a won position players lose their focus.
@penandpaper0089 Think about it this way, according to your stats page you are better than 74.3% of blitz players. That's a nice accomplishment by itself. I can't even break into the top half of classical players.
