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Why you overthink in chess (and how to stop)

@mvhk said ^

I published this week an article about very long "thinks" in chess. You make some good points in your article but the subject misses the point that very long thinks are very common between masters. Amateurs are looking to masters and copy their behavior.

https://schaken-brabo.blogspot.com/2026/02/tijd-deel-3.html

It's an important skill to know when to think more, and long thinks are justified sometimes for sure.
Nice analysis of your time usage & games in your article!

@mvhk said [^](/forum/redirect/post/FtDVcjTp) > I published this week an article about very long "thinks" in chess. You make some good points in your article but the subject misses the point that very long thinks are very common between masters. Amateurs are looking to masters and copy their behavior. > > https://schaken-brabo.blogspot.com/2026/02/tijd-deel-3.html It's an important skill to know when to think more, and long thinks are justified sometimes for sure. Nice analysis of your time usage & games in your article!

@alreyser said ^

I just played a tournament last week and I felt exactly what you mentioned, fear of a bad perfomance, reach of perfectionisms, and worriness about wrong moves. Fun fact is, I finished losing a winning position because I was so nervous on my first game that I missed a hanging piece, and I was so out of my mind on the third round that I just gave a knight for free during the opening. I'll come back to this article multiple times for sure, because unless we become computers, chess will always be emotional and psychological, I think that's what makes it so beautiful even with strong chess engines nowadays, they will never be able to mimic what chess FEELS like, and what it represents for a human consciousness. Meanwhile, I'll keep in mind your final quote about facing fear

Glad it resonated with you, and agreed for what makes chess games between people interesting.
Part of getting too nervous & worrying too much is putting too much importance on individual games or tournaments, thinking doing well and rating goes up means you're improving and doing well, and vice versa, when it would be healthier to judge ourselves on whether we put our 100% in between and at tournaments and focusing on just learning something with each game.

@alreyser said [^](/forum/redirect/post/TCdJp71A) > I just played a tournament last week and I felt exactly what you mentioned, fear of a bad perfomance, reach of perfectionisms, and worriness about wrong moves. Fun fact is, I finished losing a winning position because I was so nervous on my first game that I missed a hanging piece, and I was so out of my mind on the third round that I just gave a knight for free during the opening. I'll come back to this article multiple times for sure, because unless we become computers, chess will always be emotional and psychological, I think that's what makes it so beautiful even with strong chess engines nowadays, they will never be able to mimic what chess FEELS like, and what it represents for a human consciousness. Meanwhile, I'll keep in mind your final quote about facing fear Glad it resonated with you, and agreed for what makes chess games between people interesting. Part of getting too nervous & worrying too much is putting too much importance on individual games or tournaments, thinking doing well and rating goes up means you're improving and doing well, and vice versa, when it would be healthier to judge ourselves on whether we put our 100% in between and at tournaments and focusing on just learning something with each game.

Nice Blog, Interesting Ideas, and Lots Of Help. Thank you for the blog, and please keep posting!

Nice Blog, Interesting Ideas, and Lots Of Help. Thank you for the blog, and please keep posting!

@DawidThePawn said ^

one of the BEST blogs I have seen
im a 1500, and I need help improving. Tips?

I would say just play however is fun for you, chess is just a game

if you're serious about improving then you'll have to study, there's no other way to get better efficiently
but consider if getting better at chess is something you care about before dumping loads of time and effort into it, you only have so many hours

@DawidThePawn said [^](/forum/redirect/post/UTEyXoLh) > one of the BEST blogs I have seen > im a 1500, and I need help improving. Tips? I would say just play however is fun for you, chess is just a game if you're serious about improving then you'll have to study, there's no other way to get better efficiently but consider if getting better at chess is something you care about before dumping loads of time and effort into it, you only have so many hours

@Ay678 said ^

Nice Blog, Interesting Ideas, and Lots Of Help. Thank you for the blog, and please keep posting!

Thanks for reading

@Ay678 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/Gl7xLjw5) > Nice Blog, Interesting Ideas, and Lots Of Help. Thank you for the blog, and please keep posting! Thanks for reading

@datajunkie said ^

one of the BEST blogs I have seen
im a 1500, and I need help improving. Tips?

Glad you found it useful. Depends on if you play OTB or just online, but improving tactics and longer games (rapid and above) might be good for you

thank you!

@datajunkie said [^](/forum/redirect/post/qk0xYDBM) > > one of the BEST blogs I have seen > > im a 1500, and I need help improving. Tips? > > Glad you found it useful. Depends on if you play OTB or just online, but improving tactics and longer games (rapid and above) might be good for you thank you!

@ritterbitter said ^

one of the BEST blogs I have seen
im a 1500, and I need help improving. Tips?

I would say just play however is fun for you, chess is just a game

if you're serious about improving then you'll have to study, there's no other way to get better efficiently
but consider if getting better at chess is something you care about before dumping loads of time and effort into it, you only have so many hours

Yeah I've been serious for like 2 years, Im 11, so I have tons of time

@ritterbitter said [^](/forum/redirect/post/bIgFPCZ7) > > one of the BEST blogs I have seen > > im a 1500, and I need help improving. Tips? > > I would say just play however is fun for you, chess is just a game > > if you're serious about improving then you'll have to study, there's no other way to get better efficiently > but consider if getting better at chess is something you care about before dumping loads of time and effort into it, you only have so many hours Yeah I've been serious for like 2 years, Im 11, so I have tons of time

Alternate title: Know what you are playing for, or get better at calculating.

Honestly, playing to not be embarrassed is a thing to play for. Winning is a thing to play for. Playing an interesting game is a thing to play for.

Alternate title: Know what you are playing for, or get better at calculating. Honestly, playing to not be embarrassed is a thing to play for. Winning is a thing to play for. Playing an interesting game is a thing to play for.

This is super insightful! This will positively affect my OTB chess. I find I struggle with not making the right move because it may make me look stupid, or taking draws against higher-rated opponents when I know it will help nothing in the long run. Your points were spot-on. Thanks for sharing!

This is super insightful! This will positively affect my OTB chess. I find I struggle with not making the right move because it may make me look stupid, or taking draws against higher-rated opponents when I know it will help nothing in the long run. Your points were spot-on. Thanks for sharing!

@datajunkie said ^

Nice Blog, Interesting Ideas, and Lots Of Help. Thank you for the blog, and please keep posting!

Thanks for reading

Could you help me find a way to improve my rating? I'm in the 1300s, BTW. Any advice?

@datajunkie said [^](/forum/redirect/post/25A1E58w) > > Nice Blog, Interesting Ideas, and Lots Of Help. Thank you for the blog, and please keep posting! > > Thanks for reading Could you help me find a way to improve my rating? I'm in the 1300s, BTW. Any advice?