For players: Fill this out after a tough loss. It takes about five minutes. The goal is not to analyze the game — it is to process it and move on.

For parents: Hand this to your child after a difficult result instead of starting a conversation. Give them five minutes alone with it first.

Right After the Game

How am I feeling right now?

(Circle what fits)

Frustrated    Disappointed    Confused    Tired    Okay actually    Upset    Fine

What happened in one sentence:

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What I Can Learn

One thing that went wrong that I can work on:

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(Examples: I moved too fast. I missed a tactic. I didn’t watch the clock. I didn’t know the opening.)

Was This Mistake Familiar?

Was this the kind of mistake I’ve made before?

☐ Yes — I’ve seen this before
☐ No — this was new
☐ Not sure

One Positive from This Game

Even in a loss, something went right. What was it?

(Examples: I found a good plan in the middlegame. I stayed calm when I was losing. I didn’t blunder anything until the endgame. I managed my time better than usual.)

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Reset for the Next Round

Before I go back into the playing hall, I will:

• Drink some water
• Have a small snack if there’s time
• Take a short walk or move around for a few minutes
• Take three slow, deep breaths
• Remind myself: the last game is over. The next game is a fresh start.

One Thing I’m Looking Forward to in the Next Game

What am I looking forward to? (It doesn’t have to be about chess — it can be anything.)

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After the Tournament (Fill This in Later)

Looking back at this loss now, what was the real lesson?

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How did I do in the rounds after this loss?

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A Note for Parents

This sheet is designed to help your child process the loss themselves. Your role after a tough round is to be present — not to coach.

Let them complete this on their own first. If they want to talk after, keep it brief and focused on how they feel, not on what they should have played.

The best thing you can say after a loss: “I’m proud of how you handled that. Ready for the next one?”

For more: How to Recover After a Painful Chess Loss

From Chess Tournament Guide — ChessTournamentGuide.com