I consider a "novice" to be above a "beginner".
I consider myself an intermediate player. I wouldn't say you're "intermediate", OC.
Simply my personal view. In any case, all the advice I've given in this thread comes from my own experience.
Take it or leave it.
I'll take your advise just a semantical argument really. I def need to improve me play no question. However, I believe I'm streaky for some reason and I'm trying to figure out why it happens. Saying I need to study more doesn't really help with that problem. Again I appreciate your advise it is just a bit more general than what I was looking for. Simply saying study because you are a novice doesn't actually address that issue. It feels a little bit dismissive.
My advice is to not worry about it. There's an ebb and flow to it all in the road to improvement. My blitz rating here fluctuates a lot within a day or two from 1600s to sometimes low 1800s. Taking a break is good. Working on tactics is good. Working on endgames is good. Looking at your openings is good. And I also find watching well done Chess Vids helps my game as well. But mostly I just keep playing win or lose because it's fun.
Keep playing and studying. There is no such thing as pin pointing one factor which leads to terrible play. It's a combination of factors. It's completely useless asking for advice on such complex matter over the internet, as we do not know you. You mentioned 'stress', but it could also be that you're a 180kg couch potatoe who never leaves the house. Maybe you've got a cold. Basically any factor could be of influence to your play. We do not know. The only universally sound advice is to keep playing and studying.
Also, watch out for that Dunning-Kruger fellow who is obviously lurking around the corner in your case. It's a very common problem in the chess world, actually. People overestimate themselves all the time, which leads to terrible cognitive dissonance when losing to someone who you consider to be inferior to you. It's a downward spiral.
OCthethird
I can really relate to what you are asking about. It happens to others too believe me, and that in itself should be some comfort. Sometimes I just couldn't win any game to save my life it seems. In those times I always find a way to loose, even if I was significantly ahead in the game. It feels like somehow the chess gods have decreed I am not to win a game for whatever reason for however long. Then at other times I'll be 'in the zone' and can't loose lol.
The biggest thing I find that helps me is if I click that log out button and play unrated games for a while. Don't do the gambler addict thing and say.. "That last loss was so stupid.. I've just gotta win some of those points back, then I'll quit." It's just like gambling fever. Be disciplined and as soon as you feel one of these streaks coming on take action. Limit it to one or two games loss *if it feels like such a loosing streak starting*(otherwise don't worry too much if you loose a couple games).
The thing about playing unrated, and especially anonymous unrated games, is that there is a large and immediate release of pressure. It's a paradoxical reversal where there is even a certain pleasure to having lost a game, thinking.. 'boy it was sure a good thing I logged out- look at how much ratings I saved myself '- whereas if you win you are upset because you wish you would have not wasted a winning effort on a non rated game. With the stress and pressure to win almost gone you can relax and you'll start playing better faster.
I don't know why these things happen- I think if you researched for 'sports psychology' "loosing streak' you might find some insight there. There was an interesting film with Kevin Costner- Tin Cup I believe that gave me some understanding. It's about a golfer who was really good who went on a horrible loosing streak he couldn't shake.
I actually have a metaphysical theory about these things- but certainly not getting into that here where trolls sometimes lurk heh.
Anyway, it made me feel better to learn that this happens to others, so I hope the same goes for you.
I would like to clarify that I am not a 180kg couch potato. More like 70kg couch potato. :P
Also I don't think I'm better than I am at all. I'm hyper critical of my game (as many people on this site who know me can probably confirm) and I know my end game is trash. I have troubles finding mate. I'm not trying to insinuate that I'm better than I am. I check almost ever game with computer analysis to see where I made mistake and usually my mistake are in a winning endgame or complicated middle game. I'm not an expert and never pretended to be. I need to learn more, I guess my point is that my rating isn't indicative my my chess play, which is mostly solid. It is probably more of an indication of my end game ability. I just gave stalemate to a 1450 and won by resignation because I couldn't find the mate against my opponent 5 times. haha.
Trust me I'm not that good I just want to make it clear that I'm not really a 1200. I'm probably closer to a 1400 when all things are considered.
@OCthethird I think players really are as strong as their rating shows for the time control being looked at over hundreds of games. My one friend who is a master put me in check several years ago for saying I was stronger than my rating. The reason is that chess is a complete game. So it doesn't matter if you have a solid opening and decent midgame tactics if your endgame and ability to find mate pulls you down. So it doesn't matter that I once beat a master on Lichess in blitz or that once a day I might beat or draw a player a couple hundred points higher. My rating reflects my true strength over many games in the pool of players I'm among. I lose too many games to missing simple tactics and poor time management to say I'm stronger. The good news I'm told is that growth is potentially faster at the beginning than at the end if one applies themselves especially to tactics and at mate patterns in early development and to the endgame and strategic/tactical ideas for chosen openings as you go along. I also know from other areas of life that if I love something I will keep at it and improvement may come. In my opinion it's good to enjoy the ride and not compare too much. Best.
nobleway wrote what i wanted to but was too lazy to think out
I agree with nobleway as well.