I almost always play as high as possible (so 2800+ or 2900+ for me), the return on investment of time and the widely (almost arbitrary) skill levels of high rated opponents is only worth it that way from my experience. I’ve seen 2400s who just fortress the entire game, blunder the endgame, and then when I check their standard ratings they are 1400 blundering every other move when they can’t rely on others to do their dirty work…
At your level, I suppose the rating ranges you give are reasonable, but unless the games are anonymous, there’s every chance you might be specifically targeted by lower rated players. In fact, the higher rated the 4th place loser, the more rating the winners gain due to the formula, so it makes sense for them to act this way without necessarily even needing to cheat.
After about 4 months of being new I hit 2000 ELO, I've yoyo'd for about 8 months, rising to mid 2000 all the way down to low 1900.
The past couple of weeks I found form/[got lucky] I'm now bouncing round low 2100.
I like the dynamic of higher rated games, when across will cooperate somewhat until a flank player is eliminated, north south knows it, so does east west.
But warm up, or if I've taken a bad 4th place, I might grind out a few wins on no restriction games, I play to defend but never trust the 15/16/17 hundred across from me.
If I create a game I set rating at -300 +200, it avoids some of the smurfs, and I think a 1800 stands a slim chance against a 2300.
So I guess my range is -300 [and you might get an across who doesn't know co-op idea] and +200 which a 2300 might worry me by score alone but you only get better by playing better opponents.
so my question what range do you play?
how low is just bullying noobs, how high is too high when you'll be torn to pieces?