Differences between 200-400-600-800?

Until 700, just blundering less, more consistent at tactics.

I agree!!

I'm 817 after like 7 months and had a huge blockage in getting out of 600s, got through 700s really quick. I rarely lose because I was beaten in a positional game. I rarely even lose because of tactics. I mainly lose from blundering and time. When I moved my time control up I went on a 7 game winning streak. I think this is is most 800s.

200-400 - they just dont understand the dynamics of the game, moves are random. They move cause they have to. No plans. Serial Blundering

500-650 - they know an opening variation, they cant do middlegames so your rarely get close endgames. Mate on the board in middlegame mostly because they cant spot when theyre being mated. 2 big blunders per game, and very prone to blunder spiraling

650- pretty much 800 and something - they can beat any newbie. They know an opening to a not so bad degree. More patience and middlegame understanding, rerouting, space, kings safety, piece activity. 2 Blunders a game max, , with not so much blunder spiraling. The biggest change is that after 700 or so, one learns that losing a pawn (unless its a gambit) is also a very serious blunder. At this level your start playing a few endgames, so pawn structures and keeping pawns becomes visible for the first time. Tactically a bit better. At this level I win by getting into my opponents position. Which takes time. At this level your start to play actual endgames besides 2 queens or 2 rooks because the game got close till the end.

First off. Most people that take up chess either professionally or as a hobby typically don’t start off at 200. Usually people start, the lower rated ones, at around 400-600 rating and can get to about 800 rating without much effort.

What is the difference between a player that starts at 200 rating and a player that starts at 400 rating?

I would say 90 percent of the time a person only rated 200 is someone that created a new account and is purposely losing so he can troll on the forums.

The other percent of the time is just lack of chess aptitude, which some people have. The goal for these people would be to be increase their board vision by playing lots of games with the longer time controls, which sadly, most people don’t do.

I know people that are rated about 800 on blitz at chess.com and I’m surprised when I hear they are rated that low people these same people often play very solidly with me otb.

Differences between 400-800 stem from having or not having practical experience. The fact that they are still that low is because they often make silly mistakes. I play with two different 800 rated players and one of them often makes silly mistakes or just drops pieces for no compensation. The other invested a lot of time learning various openings but when taken out of book he doesn’t know what to do.

Sadly these two will never improve because they don’t review their losses.

Actually one of the two is improving because he plays longer time controls at another club he goes to and goes against strong players.

I noticed when I play him with these time controls he just blitz’s out his moves and I end up destroying him.

I for example am learning how to play at longer time controls. I’m starting with 30 minute games. I noticed I destroy people who match my speed but when faced with people who think, I tend to lose. So I have to train myself to think of candidate moves on their time, and spend more time on my moves when they are thinking more about their moves.

So I can say with certainty that time management is a big part of the game and beginners especially need to think a long time about their moves with a checklist of things to go over when thinking about their moves.

I learned chess slowly because I wasn’t given a check list nor did I read any books. I learned strategy by just playing stronger opponents. If I were to give advice to my younger self I would say spend time analyzing your losses and go over master games, and play games with longer time controls.

Maybe you can try to focus on the moves that do make sense to you. I also find that I may not understand the complex lines the engine suggests.

In my personal opinion I believe you can lose the game before it starts for example say your a 800 and your opponent shows up on screen and before anything our eyes go right to his rating . You see 850 and you instantly get a little nervous knowing you’re in for your money on this one . Same goes for when you see a lower rating , you instantly think you’re going to smoke this guy and you don’t take your moves with much thought and take a loss . Stop looking at their rating and play each game like magnus is in front of you . When I did that I started to get more wins . 

next I’ve noticed that the better the competition seems to miss game changing moves right in their face . Meaning we are both still blundering . Why it happens I would say that the better you start to get you begin to have a routine to open that you like and you don’t even really defend what your opponent is setting up . All your doing is putting your pieces in your go to position and you miss a free queen . so set up your pieces but pay attention cause the plans could change. 

I stumbled upon a good opening , and started using it for around 7 games in a row . Smashing guys and forcing them to quit . Then when I got a higher rating that all came to an end quickly as within 3 moves I knew they knew what I was up to . Or maybe they were just paying attention and defending better . Either way I went on a losing streak because I kept wanting that opening to work till I realized I need to start playing in the moment . 

it takes time man. The higher you go you must know your playing guys who are just as dedicated as you . You’re no longer playing the guy who makes an account and forgets about it in 3 days . So you have to start seeing your moves in advance . And their moves . Loook at it like this . Every move you make has a purpose . At the higher levels so does your opponents . He ain’t just moving pieces because he wants to. He’s setting something up . Look at why he did that move there’s always a reason and when you spot it you will be able to stop it 2 moves ahead. I’ll end with a big game changer for me was when I started to really attack their pieces with multiple pieces. Meaning I had 2 of 3 pieces ready to kill one piece and also having 2 or 3 pieces defending a piece . . Heck remember at one time we were all the guy who had to keep losing our castle / rook to the dang knight 20 or 40 times before we realized we needed to get him an out option before than knight puts the king in check and takes the castle for free……damn that move always boiled my blood but that comes with time and eventually you see it and learn. . It will click if you want it too . It’s just all about really focusing on what they are up too and eventually the will open up the board for you to finish them . Defense wins ball games . If they can’t finish you then they can’t win

This is exactly what i believe these U1000 players do, they just blunder less the higher you go, the only big other thing between 200 and 800 for me is that a 200 will play 1.h4 or some other nonsense while an 800 will try to play principled, development etc

I was 200 around 3 years ago when I first started playing and I was 800 around a year and a half ago. Now I'm 1960, here's what I've noticed.

Less Critical Mistakes

This one's obvious, as you climb the rating ladder, less blunders are made as you are improving at the game. At 200 you are roughly around the 'just starting' or 'newbie' level. You're still learning the game, and ther's a lot of work to be done. At 800, you are around the 'beginner' to 'advanced beginner' range. Between those ratings, as you climb, you make less (but still quite a few) blunders, and they might end up being less significant mistakes than at the 200 level.

More Opening Knowledge

Often overlooked, but also true, is the fact that 800 rated players have more opening knowledge than those at 200, 400 or 600. 200 elo is a rating range in which you can just "wing it" and go from there. At 800 it's not quite as easy, but you don't have to know too much opening theory to play well at an 800 level. But if you play a 200-level opening or try to 'reinvent the wheel' at 800, you'll likely lose as if the opening is not played commonly, it's not a good opening.

More Organized Play

I'll say this, 800 players are far from perfect, and still have lots of work to do. But compared to a 200, 400 or 600, they do have more knowledge in regards to navigating a chess game. When a chess player is still starting out, their play will naturally be very sloppy as they are still relatively inexperienced(Face it, no one plays their first 20 chess games at a 2000 level). When said player reaches 800, they will notice changes, as they have learned more about the rules and the stages of the game. While still not exactly a great chess player, this player will play at a much better level than at 200. 300-700 are something of an in-between zone.

Simply put. It's the amount and types of mistakes and blunders you make.