How to Handle Losing in Chess with National Master Elliott Neff

You won't win every game of chess, and that's okay! National Master and Chess4Life Founder Elliott Neff discusses how to handle losing a game of chess and learn from your mistakes.
👇 Take your next step:
♟️ Download the FREE Rules of Chess Guide: chess4life.com/rules-of-chess...
📅 Find a Class: portal.chess4life.com/pub/opc
📈 Improve Your Rating: chess4life.lpages.co/chess-sk...
💻 Visit the Chess4Life Website: chess4life.com/
============================================
National Master Elliott Neff - Chess4Life Founder & CEO - Author
📕 A Pawn’s Journey: www.elliottneff.com/apawnsjou...
============================================
Looking for something else? Visit linktr.ee/chess4life for more!

[@nickoemmanuelvillacruz3090]

Ive experienced losing streak to the point that i wanna quit chess but after ive watched this video im now motivated to start again and to learn more about chess

[@kaykayesJr]

I’ve lost 200 elo in blitz I’m quitting chess forever

[@prozitaitir7356]

Thank you!! Im scared to lose, so every time i lose i just stop playing chess for weeks, but i really want to improve my game, that’s why im thanking you for this video!

[@richardv.582]

This is huge , great content. I might also add , after losing multiple games in a row mind kinda goes into what I call the " zone" no emotion just pure focus its at this point i begin to pull out draws and or wins.

[@Chess4Life]

Thanks for watching Richard! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the content.

[@QuinnMakesGames]

I just lost like 7 games and tanked my rating. thanks for this

[@lagimfaresiyim]

Thanks for this. 0 idea why the comments are weird. This video was uploaded 7 years ago and it’s still raw truth. I won’t give up.

[@musicislifeproductions3602]

Very good advice. This is one of the best outlooks I have ever personally received. Words to live by for sure.

[@jeroenbarbier3508]

What helped for me, is when i blundered to stand up, drink something, and try to say to myself "oke what does NOT suck about my position" mabey im a pawn or 2 down, but i can still activate a dangerous bishop. Silmann is great in teaching this

[@dragonofthewest8305]

Thank you so much you've definitely cheered me up

[@xavi._06]

Thank you...just watched it after losing a game to a Higher rated player than me in the OTB rated tournament..It was a complete draw but somehow I messed up and he got me in Zugzuwang..I was so devastated before I saw thiss!!! ❤🎉

[@peterpotter468]

Thank you sir! I am only 13 years old and I got inspiration from this.

[@watteau6646]

I win at online blitz a lot, but sometimes I lose to lower-rated players, when I have a winning position, and that drives me up the wall! I go back over those games, and the lower-rated player suddenly seems to make smart, logical moves, attacking my extra material, and I'm on the defensive. If I get too offensive, then he infiltrates and I lose that way. If I get too defensive, he grinds me down with coordinated pieces and pawn pushes. It's incredibly frustrating. Losing against masters? If you weren't a master yet, why would you be "devastated" losing against them? Losing a won game against lower-rated players--now THAT is something where you start to think the gods are somehow against you, and you should quit chess!

[@ratpshaminda2540]

damn true brother

[@Velshin1986]

I am not afraid of losing but I get too angry too much to the point that I get heavy breath and my entire body and hands shaking to the point I cant even calm down to analyze my losses because the moment I remember "how I lost that super winning game" and get even more tilted because I remember that loss.

[@AbhiRaj-yo9ds]

I lost the final of my university's blitz tournament today due to a blunder in the endgame. I just can't stop thinking about the loss.

[@aryansaxena4978]

Thanks a lot man. You are a true master

[@MedEasyAnas]

I only play online but sometimes when I lose I'm filled with rage and shame and disgust especially when I see my rating drop down

[@apocryphalmicrocosm4262]

You're so clear in your mind 👍

[@MayurKulkarni]

thanks, it was great. I was feeling stressed and afraid of playing chess. but your video helped me.

[@theterriblece]

Thanks for this. I've been dealing with chess anxiety for quite some time now. I like the royal game, I study tons of material, but weirdly I get terrified at even playing because of fear of losing.

[@Chess4Life]

Thanks! How are you now? Have you broken through the 'fear of losing barrier' yet? If not, ready to start?

[@Thompson98PL]

That cheered me up somewhat, thank you

[@Chess4Life]

Glad we could do that.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

We live in a society where "loser" is a term of abuse, and chess is a highly competitive game.

[@FruitCakeReaper]

I find smashing the chessboard and swiping the pieces across the room in a losing position very satisfying.

[@keisuketakahashi3597]

Thank you man I really needed that.

[@Chess4Life]

Glad this was helpful! How are things going now?

[@keisuketakahashi3597]

@@Chess4Life I did what you just said, started reviewing my games and try not to make same mistakes. This thing is actually hard in chess tbh. But that inspired me to play even more so that I play better.

[@kamalhaouat1950]

So underrated channel thanks ican't believe that i see the video tooo late

[@Chess4Life]

Thanks @Kamal - is it really too late? In life, you're not 'checkmated' unless you're out of breath> :)

[@venkatachengalvala4289]

Good advice! :)

[@Chess4Life]

Thank you!

[@ReddyReddy-yn5uf]

Super presentation

[@abhishekpratapnigam]

Reached 2000 and then dropped to 1880 in a single day.. fucking chess

[@whoammi]

Chess though so many lessons in my life

[@renanruseler7455]

Very nice video!

[@Chess4Life]

Thank you very much!

[@joshiclasseschandigarh833]

Nice content

[@eljofrie3364]

Thank you for lesson:(

[@hello-zh3jr]

You're helping a lot of people.

[@Chess4Life]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@karthikkallanagoud9475]

Tq😌

[@buk1733]

This video is the cure after each defeat

[@kimgysen10]

Somehow I can handle losing in life, but I can't handle losing in chess. Lmfao.

[@maryjane5236]

I keep losing recently, i try to be creative on board, go beyond s hemats and people keep owning me in mid game😞

[@nm7358]

The anxiety comes not only from losing, but the fear that you might not be improving from it. Chess is notorious that practice does not necessarily lead to perfect. You can do the same mistakes again and again and again, even if you perform your analysis each game, because it is easy to forget the lessons when you are under stress. It can and take years, even decades before you finally improve and by then, it's too late in your chess life.

[@beatsong9291]

The most disrespecting thing is to lose to a player rated lower than you

[@seant1196]

godly

[@Mikesco10]

you have no idea how inraged i am right now... just lost a tournament i could have possibly won because one stupid move...

[@helenbarrett6451]

I feel so hurt by my lack of ability lol. Such an inferiority complex.

[@silviapabon1282]

the only way to handle is to lose in training mode...and thats it. -.-

[@SCROODz]

this wasn't just about chess.

[@kithmalgunawardana6686]

I lost 80 elo points in a row and i was really angry.should i keep playing with lossing mind or play after a break

[@xplosiveknight8685]

After a break

[@Chess4Life]

hi @kithmal - do you mind clarifying? 80 elo points - was that OTB (over the board) or online playing? What rating are you currently? Have some suggestions and would value the context first... Thanks! (Elliott)

[@ayushpalariya9217]

😇😇

[@The_Invisible_Man]

At some point? Like 48 percent of the time

[@okankyoto]

Hah, Ive lost EVERY game of chess I've ever played...

[@EeshaanSafdar]

Here's my tip: Deal with it

[@JJ-ib3bn]

This video is hopeless for me.I lose and I learn something?Not everyone can become better even I analysis every game i played .

[@jo0kerzz79]

First lul

[@westsidebilling]

Well isn't that sweet! Now we're playing the label game. It isn't losing anymore, it's "learning" Yawn!!...........

[@Chess4Life]

Words matter... what we tell ourselves internally matter a lot... in my experience, the 'silent voice' in my head dramatically affects my outcomes. What you 'say' or 'think' your mind generally believes to be the 'truth' even if it could be rationally argued against. So it seems to me that frequently our 'emotional' mindset wins out over our 'rational' thinking... Bottom line, yes, you lose a game in the short-term, but are you willing to embrace the 'pain' of losing in order to gain the 'win' of learning?

[@rumy6871]

Chess is rife with cheaters and toxic people. Do something else with your life.