Maybe you have DOS (Difficult Opening Syndrome)
Why do I lose against players I should beat?
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Um, DOS is real, Boris Spassky had it
mayby you are just underestimating them and therfor not playing your best without knowing it
Mar 19, 2016
0
#6
There is not much difference between 800-1000 rated. Both blunder pieces at least few times in a single game. Also at that level is very much possible that someone is simply underrated (long pauze then he just got better + 100-200 real elo)
zinkelburger wrote:
At my local chess club, I play OTB games with people rated 800-1200. I beat the 1000+ players but lose to the 800 players. Can someone explain this to me, please?
1. They could be underrated
2. You could underestimate them
3. You might be on a really good winning streak and then you become too confident
All three have happened to me :(
Thanks everyone! I proably was underestimating them and over estimating myself.
lol Samartine
Mar 30, 2016
0
#12
Don't really like that advice by the GM. If you wait for lower rated to blunder, then why you will play risky vs higher rated - it is the same, you will blunder and lose.
My advice is this:
Play agressive, tempo moves and attacking style vs lower rated - they will blunder 100%. In chess the hardest thing is to defend with accurate moves. Even GM's blunders when they are under attack. So attack those low rated. But! Remember this: When your attack succed and you got advantage slow down and make sure you can't lose - protect king and stablealize the position and advantage you got. Many times players lose their advantage by pushing too hard , but their king is unsafe and other guy counter attack by tactics.
Vs High rated opponents: Play risky only if you know his weakness. Openning hole etc, position preferences etc. Play solid and safe, but not pure defense. For many players hard part is to make a plan, so by playing solid he will get nervous, becouse he expect quick win or blunder, he will start pushing premature, thats exacly when you from defense will start counterplay. Offense is the best defense, specially if the attacker made unsound sac or bad moves like pushing for no reasons pawns.
Many games are lost by tactic. But what creates that tactic? Here is one secret: Players often lose their cool. What i mean is that they play okay, solid, nice normal moves. But at some point position is changed, it gets shake, moves are played by inertion, by feel, you make a move and you provoke you opponent to blunder. Don't lose your cool. Always be with fresh mind.
Other advice - Always be ahead on the clock. Many players blunders when they are in time trouble. So don't be that guy. Be the one pressing on the clock.
Some strong players says: If your opponent is in time trouble, dont rush, don't play quick. Better wait and see all the moves and play strong moves. That's true but mostly on master level. When your opponent is on time trouble or not high rated, if you think or have high blitz/bullet skills, better press even harder. If he is bad overall, he will be even worse at time trouble. No need to make perfect moves. You need to make solid moves that continues the pressure and creates problems to your opponent. Most likely he is not good blitz player. Most of them are not. So most likely he will blunder and lose.
people get TOO hung up on the power of their rating to describe whether they should win or lose.
chess is more than two numbers comparing each other.
Mar 30, 2016
0
#14
Rating is everything. Skill comparsion is part of life. Competition have been always at top over playing for fun. 95% of players here play for rating points and care about their rating, status and progress. You have to know who is stronger and who is weaker. If there was no rating chess players would be down to 10... Like saying why care about money.. 100 or 10 dollars , is just a number, piece of paper..
I feel my point was missed- a little. oc chess is a competition of comparing skills, and rating is important.
But its very difficult though to describe your Strength by a single number.
if you are playing someone who is reasonable close to the same rating as you- there may be other factors besides just how is bigger that determines who will win.
Mar 30, 2016
0
#16
Guess it's a guy thing for some guys. Something to show off with. Like having big muscles. But that also wouldn't guarantee to win a fight or to be skillful. Rating alone can't win a game. You have to make the better moves... Money is different. I like money. It can get you stuff. 
AIM-AceMove wrote:
Don't really like that advice by the GM. If you wait for lower rated to blunder, then why you will play risky vs higher rated - it is the same, you will blunder and lose.
My advice is this:
Play agressive, tempo moves and attacking style vs lower rated - they will blunder 100%. In chess the hardest thing is to defend with accurate moves. Even GM's blunders when they are under attack. So attack those low rated. But! Remember this: When your attack succed and you got advantage slow down and make sure you can't lose - protect king and stablealize the position and advantage you got. Many times players lose their advantage by pushing too hard , but their king is unsafe and other guy counter attack by tactics.
Vs High rated opponents: Play risky only if you know his weakness. Openning hole etc, position preferences etc. Play solid and safe, but not pure defense. For many players hard part is to make a plan, so by playing solid he will get nervous, becouse he expect quick win or blunder, he will start pushing premature, thats exacly when you from defense will start counterplay. Offense is the best defense, specially if the attacker made unsound sac or bad moves like pushing for no reasons pawns.
Many games are lost by tactic. But what creates that tactic? Here is one secret: Players often lose their cool. What i mean is that they play okay, solid, nice normal moves. But at some point position is changed, it gets shake, moves are played by inertion, by feel, you make a move and you provoke you opponent to blunder. Don't lose your cool. Always be with fresh mind.
Other advice - Always be ahead on the clock. Many players blunders when they are in time trouble. So don't be that guy. Be the one pressing on the clock.
Some strong players says: If your opponent is in time trouble, dont rush, don't play quick. Better wait and see all the moves and play strong moves. That's true but mostly on master level. When your opponent is on time trouble or not high rated, if you think or have high blitz/bullet skills, better press even harder. If he is bad overall, he will be even worse at time trouble. No need to make perfect moves. You need to make solid moves that continues the pressure and creates problems to your opponent. Most likely he is not good blitz player. Most of them are not. So most likely he will blunder and lose.
I dont think assuming your opponent is going to blunder is a bad strategy you should always consider every option your opponent has
Mar 30, 2016
0
#18
thegreat_patzer wrote:
I feel my point was missed- a little. oc chess is a competition of comparing skills, and rating is important.
But its very difficult though to describe your Strength by a single number.
if you are playing someone who is reasonable close to the same rating as you- there may be other factors besides just how is bigger that determines who will win.
Yes for sure. Equal/close ratings does not mean they are equal in skills - chess is so big, there is no way both players will know what other know. But ratings gets you a clue what you can expect from someone. For example ratings tells me a lot -if i play 1400 rated i know he probably will blunder piece or two if i pressure him, unless he is underrated which is very dangerous thing. So i relax more, i have more confiedence, But if i had this same relax mode versus a master but i did not knew that he is a master i will lose badly.. If i play 1600 i can test him and tell exacly what he is thinking about me in first 10 moves - almost feel his fear. I can tell he is respecting me and playing for a draw for example. So before real game has started i am in full control of the game and can do whatever i want even with black pieces, just becouse of my higher rating. If i play 1900 i am not expecting easy game and free pieces and i am more carefull what i do.
is not only psyhological, you can't really go full agressive mode vs high rated, assuming you did not know his rating, becouse he will win.
At my local chess club I play OTB games with peoplle rated 800-1200. I beat the 1000+ players but lose to the 800 players. Can someone explain this to me please?