Learn from the loss.
Tips for playing a higher rated oppenent
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Think longer, play better, resign earlier.
don't psyche yourself out, just play chess. and yeah, analyse afterwards.
I'm far from an expert but I have found playing the game and not the rating helps. I found before that I'd often see tactics or threats that weren't there simply because I assumed they were up to something that was over my head. After going over a couple of higher rated games with an NM, he told me that I was 'seeing ghosts'. He also said that the 'cure was worse than the perceived threat'. Anyway, now I try to just concentrate on the game and the best moves at hand and not over think every move they make simply because they are a much stronger player. This was too recent for me to have properly put it to the test but it seems to make sense and will try it more over the coming weeks.
No.
Go into the game expecting to win. If you go in expecting to lose, you will be right.
Play your very best game, play as sharp as you can, and learn from it. Either you will go down swinging or you will score a nice victory (even if it's only a draw.) One of the surest ways to lose against a strong opponent is to play quietly hoping for a draw. You will lose. Go for the win.
Ratings aren't a guarantee of success. If you are within 250 rating points, you have at least a 1/5 chance of winning. If you are white, it's the equivalent of adding ~50 rating points to your game. As someone once said, it's not sufficient to be a good player, you also have to play well to win.
I agree with that, you just have to play the best moves you can.
A basic example, but don't just trust that you can't take a piece because they are higher rated and it will be a trap, trust your calculation.
On the other hand, I have gotten into trouble doing just the opposite against much weaker players. Underestimating them because of a low rating. I suppose the same advice stands, play the game and not the rating.
Scottrf wrote:
Learn from the loss.
+1 :)
Though not what the OP wanted to hear, for sure.
If your ratings on chess.com reflect your true playing strength and both blitz/standard and online chess, you can realistically only hope to do the following:
- Don't hang pieces and pawns before he does :)
- Play bold and aggressively (but not stupidly like playing for cheapo mates)
- Focus on forcing moves alone (both for him and for you).
- Avoid the weak-player mantra of "see a trade, make a trade for no damn reason at all" at all costs.
I second, third, fourth, etc. all who have said "don't play against a rating". When I actually pay attention to the fact that so-and-so is 200+ points higher rated than I am, I rarely fail to lose. Just treat every game the same, avoid even looking at the opponent's rating if you can, and play your best chess. Bon chance!
enjoy- maybe he will underestiMATE you.
One of my worst games in the past year was against a 2700+ rated GM, and I made the mistake of drastically changing my game plan to reflect his rating. The logic was "well if I play normally, I'll just lose, so I might as well try this", but it was faulty then and remains so.
SmyslovFan wrote:
No.
Go into the game expecting to win. If you go in expecting to lose, you will be right.
Play your very best game, play as sharp as you can, and learn from it. Either you will go down swinging or you will score a nice victory (even if it's only a draw.) One of the surest ways to lose against a strong opponent is to play quietly hoping for a draw. You will lose. Go for the win.
Ratings aren't a guarantee of success. If you are within 250 rating points, you have at least a 1/5 chance of winning. If you are white, it's the equivalent of adding ~50 rating points to your game. As someone once said, it's not sufficient to be a good player, you also have to play well to win.
"As sharp as you can" may be good advice... but not any sharper than that! You'll get confused before they do. ie I woudln't play very sharp unless that's your style to begin with.
Other than that, I agree with the advice given. It's always been my motto that you play your game as best you can. If you win, great. If you lose, you can take home valuable lessons. If you play weird and lose, you get nothing.
Still, ozzie, you got to play a +2700 rated opponent. Have you shared the game here?
Yes @SmyslovFan it was a pretty cool experience.
u win, duh
Don't make blunders like this poor guy - http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=64291588
He was doing VERY WELL for his rating until...
When playing someone 200+ rating points higher I feel less pressure. Heck I am not supposed to win so I can play more adventurously. This may not help in the game in question but I find that if I have played well and lost, it will trickle down to my other games.
Cnacnel wrote:
Don't make blunders like this poor guy - http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=64291588
He was doing VERY WELL for his rating until...
I wouldn't overstate your opponent's play.
What are some good tips for playing a higher rated oppenet? I mean a few hundred points higher.