I think it has been harder to keep up with your rating. Earlier I was around 1700 for a long period. Nowadays I can hardly reach 1600. I'm not worse but perhaps it is harder competion. What do you say?
How do you know that you have not, in fact, been playing worse (as in 'less accurate') chess?
One possibility could be the ratings of the players your higher and/or lower rating attracts. And, consequently, the points you are being awarded and/or penalized.
I've been experiencing something similar to you, but within my current range of 1270's to 1370's. I, actually, punched up close to 1400, got hammered back into the 1200's by higher-rated players and have now worked my way back to the 1370's.
Of course, I got my clock cleaned by a 1500 newbie playing their very first game this morning :) LOL
(They picked my game proposal; I wasn't stalking newbies)
I think as long as your peaks are trending upwards, you're probably gradually improving, even if you don't perceive it yourself.
You know, it's a weird dynamic.
Playing lower-rated players often results in playing against idiotic moves -- i.e. where we really aren't learning anything. And, when one of them beats you, you lose 40 points. I'm also convinced that there are very good players with more than one account (i.e. with at least one being far below their true playing rating) that are messing up the overall ratings. I've recently had "1050's" players grind me up like an 1800 wizard -- and that doesn't happen by accident. One good move, sure. But, not a long series of sustained gotcha moves with purpose. I'm confident enough with my own 1300's status to recognize good from bad, and stupid from lucky :)
I've been experiencing something similar to you, but within my current range of 1270's to 1370's. I, actually, punched up close to 1400, got hammered back into the 1200's by higher-rated players and have now worked my way back to the 1370's.
Of course, I got my clock cleaned by a 1500 newbie playing their very first game this morning :) LOL
(They picked my game proposal; I wasn't stalking newbies)
I think as long as your peaks are trending upwards, you're probably gradually improving, even if you don't perceive it yourself.
You know, it's a weird dynamic.
Playing lower-rated players often results in playing against idiotic moves -- i.e. where we really aren't learning anything. And, when one of them beats you, you lose 40 points. I'm also convinced that there are very good players with more than one account (i.e. with at least one being far below their true playing rating) that are messing up the overall ratings. I've recently had "1050's" players grind me up like an 1800 wizard -- and that doesn't happen by accident. One good move, sure. But, not a long series of sustained gotcha moves with purpose. I'm confident enough with my own 1300's status to recognize good from bad, and stupid from lucky :)
I think your last comment is correct. Some players are much better than theire rating indicates. Anyway you play for fun and in the long run I guess your rating mirrors your strenght.
FYI, I find I play noticeably better when I leave the TV off in the background.
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