I'm not asking whether rating is important to not, but whether you have ever had this happen. It's OK if you have - it doesn't make you a bad person! =D

I sometimes play exclusively for rating so that I could get matches against other higher-rated opponents, as those are usually stronger. After I reach a particular rating (usually not unreasonably high for my strength), I start to play stronger and stronger players until my rating drops a bit low - and then I simply rinse and repeat.

So how about you? Have you used the same or different reasoning for playing for rating? Have you ever even played for rating ONCE in your life? ;D

Anybody there?

I hear what you are saying.  Yep, I'm guilty.  Rating is a general reflection of your playing strength. This number always varies, of course. But if you bounce between say 1400 and 1600, it's safe to say you are a solid 1500 player.

Anyhow, yea, it's good to play stronger people so that you improve, so rating does count!  :)

hey

i play to win <:~)

Any testimonials of innocence? ;D

In real life.. rating doesnt matter to me.. (well it does, i want a high rating of course) but i usually play to win against an opponent or just to win the tournament or get in the top 5..

On online chess it kinda does matter but it kinda doesnt.. i feel like i sdhould be lower rating so im trying to play alot of higher rated players to see where i belong, and right now i feel inflated.

I feel inflated too.

No...

Tell me about it! I honestly can't wait to be put in my place.

ive been trying to find where im at as far as my rating goes right now i play between 1400 and 1600 and yes since i play n a lot of tournaments i will play some high rated players however yes you can improve but its kind of humbling to lose like 9 in a row i kind of like winning some and i have better chances in between 1400 and 1600 but my rating is only a chess.com rating and would like to see where im at whth a realone anyway i try to have fun and learn to improve

i play for becoming a grand master !! and for hapiness too

I play because the pieces beckon me to construct beautiful works of art that spell doom for my opponent.

No, seriously, I play because it's either chess or jail.  So chess it is.  I'm never going back, ever... please don't send me back.

No, actually,  I play because ever since my dog died, I've had no one to play checkers against.

No, to clarify, I play chess because it's just a few vowels away from being cheese.  And man, do I love cheese.  

I do that most of the time over the board. I have to, if I'm going to reach my goal of a 2000 USCF rating in 2.5 years!

Online, though, it's all training and fun. I don't care about my online rating, because it has no effect on my game at all.

Good to know more people think their numbers are better than their idea of themselves...were I more inflated, people would attach me some string and sell it to little children. And no, I don't believe I've ever played for the rating alone up to now.

I wrote a forum topic a couple of months ago where I stated that "we play solely for ratings." (one way or another) 

I want to see where my peak is at chess.com before I ever consider checking out a book on chess.  Unfortunately, there is not one solidified manner to accurately test playing strength here (CC) because everyone plays a different amount of games and their deviations are all different.

Doc--you KNOW my problem is that I play anyone and everyone.  I am starting to play people whose ratings are comprable.  It has made a difference and I have noticed whedn I play seriously higher rated people it does keep me on my toes but I think that playing people closely rated to me has helped me build confidence.

i try to ignore my rating when its low,but love to look at it when its high.

i always play to win, so it means i play for my rating points...