3 Things To Prepare Against Someone Higher Rated

How do you feel when you know you are going to play against a higher-rated opponent?

Back in 2018, I was rated about 1750 FIDE and found myself struggling against players around 2000 ELO. Most of these struggles were internal. I felt anxious before the game. I thought that I had very little chance of winning, and even if I did, I discounted it for luck. Fast forward to 2023, this is the best year I had in terms of my chess performance. I reached 2000 FIDE for the first time. The stress has reduced significantly, and I'm most proud of my performance in Division 1 of the Four Nation Chess League (4NCL) 2022/2023.



 If you are playing OTB chess, chances are you will face someone higher rated than you at some point. Let me share with you what I had to learn the hard way to improve my results against higher-rated opponents. 

1. The Mindset: Going In To Learn

My anxiety came from the fear of losing. 

It was only when I shifted my mindset this fear slowly diminished. I learned that losing is part of learning, and learning is necessary for growth. On paper, these guys are meant to know something more about the game than me, so actually, I have nothing to lose and play my best.

If I lose, I learn something new about the game and if I win, I gain some rating points. It's a win-win situation.    

As Hans Neimann would say, "The chess speaks for itself."

2. The Gameplan: Play What You Are Most Comfortable With 

Play your best and put the result aside.

It is a lot easier to play my best in positions that I know better. I believe that this is the case for you too, and you should aim for those sorts of positions. For example, if you enjoy sharp tactical positions, aim to open the centre. If you like endgames, pick an opening which allows you to trade queens early on. If you like the slow positional game, play quieter lines which gives a small edge.

Hence, it is important to steer the game to positions you are more comfortable playing, NOT the ones you think your opponent was uncomfortable with. 

3. The Result: The Next Step Matters More

So you managed to get a position you are comfortable with, but lost anyways. What next?

Going back to Step 1, it is time to learn from it! Personally, I found losing positions I'm comfortable with reap the most rewards. This is because I already have some understanding which I am able to deepen after the defeat.

But what if you didn't get the positions you were comfortable with? 

Well, that is an indication of a potential area that needs attention. Like exercising the body, you don't want one part of the body to be significantly dominant to another. A strong upper body with chopstick legs doesn't make a good look.  

By applying this framework I'm able to enjoy the learning process of the game more and keep on improving at the same time. This is what I would wish someone telling me when I was facing those draining emotions and I hope someone out there would benefit from this. 

Want help in improving your chess? I'm currently open to coaching new students. If you are interested or know anyone who would like coaching, you can send me a message here. For more info, check my bio and website.