Are 1600s "hungrier"?

I've recently dropped from 1800 to 1600 in blitz. Suddenly, I can't win a game. 

For one, everyone that I play seems to have been 1800 before as well. But even if not, I'm getting worked by all these 15-1600s.

Then I go play on my buddies account and beat a 1916, and after 5 games bring his rating from 1840-1880.

Anybody else notice this? More ch**ting in the 1600 level? I did analyze 2 games that I lost and the player made ZERO inaccuracies or mistakes in 2 games... seemed suspicious.

I don't know maybe I just suck. Rant over

Funny. A common theme too seems to be that I go up big. Long pause from the other player, then all of a sudden they come back with some very advanced strategy to win.

What is going on!? Aghh

Maybe you should get your act together and QUIT when you're down with a queen instead of wasting other peoples time.

Please be relevant, helpful & nice!

RIght, your comment is relevant helpful and nice...

I'll follow your example

Maybe you are just playing worse, nothing to do with other people

may be you are stagnated .why not take a little break from playing and concentrate on training yourself more  .. learn a new opening . analyse some of your recent games that you lost and get to know your weakness . make a come back with renewed energy .

Thank you TRex! I feel like I'm going crazy! I get that obviously I am playing worse, but am perplexed by checkmating a 1900, then losing to a 1570 within hours.

I have noticed the same thing you are talking about, perfect play, then suddenly bad. Or the opposite, very bad start then suddenly beating me while down 2 power pieces. 

I looked at your 3 losses against raydyfun using stockfish. Something like every 3rd move by him was inaccurate or just bad. Looking without an engine, you were just missing simple tactics.

One thing about playing with a lower rating is, your opponents wont respect you as much, so are more willing to try to calculate punishment. So playing a 1600 when your rating is 1900 may actually be objectively easier. In any case it seems you're having a bad day (or you're underestimating your opponents believing you should be able to win with any move). 

Yes 0110101, I am not suspicious that everyone is cheating. I know I am very capable of very bad play, and probably overrated at 1800. My games today haven't seemed that weird, other than to be losing so much against weak opponents. But yesterday against Gusar_enko, those had me really wondering.

Well, did you get lucky with the 1900? Because here's the one you lost against the 1570. Does this look like cheating, or something even a 1000 rated player could see?

Fair enough. Not trying to give you a hard time.

'I am perplexed by checkmating a 1900, then losing to a 1570 within hours.'

I enjoy booze with my blitz - it is amazing what happens within hours true story 

'Then I go play on my buddies account and beat a 1916, and after 5 games bring his rating from 1840-1880.'

I thought this was not allowed 

No worries 001101, I can take the criticism and appreciate you taking the time to give it.

I think today especially, and maybe the problem overall, is that I'm playing these games at bullet speed. Mostly because I am underestimating my opponent and falling for the psychology you talked about above. Often times my clock is at 4:00 and theirs is at 1:30, and I don't understand why I'm losing? Haha. Obviously I just need to take a break.

But, on the subject in general, I do think it is weird how the momentum works. I have experienced this same thing before. It really seems like any time I drop below 1700, I have to scratch and crawl my way back up. But once above, have no problem holding. I think a lot of it is psychological, but also find that many of the 1600 players have been 1700-1800 before as well, and are in the same position as I am. More desperate for a win. Was wondering if others had experienced the same

Maybe it's just a matter of playing higher rated opponents who are not playing well and lower rated opponents who are playing well. I lose a lot of games to 1200 rated players who play extremely well. That keeps my rating down. But then it creeps back up and I will play games against 1500 rated players and win easily and consistently. I dont even look at or wonder about ratings anymore, since it seems like on any given day here a 1200 player can trounce a 1800 player.

I'm hungry to get back to 1800. I like that rating because less people keep playing to get you to mess up in lost positions.

I'm hungry to get back to 1800. I like that rating because less people keep playing to get you to mess up in lost positions.

just hit 1800. I can confirm that going from 1700 to 1800 was one day while trying for over a week to get from 1600 to 1700. people at sub 1700 get wild when you gain an edge. overall 1500's and 1600's are garbage but I am much to stupid to be able to solve them throwing the house at me 5 or 6 games in a row. 1700 + seem to sometimes be playing for rating which can cause them to play moves that try to keep draw which can be weaker against aggressive positional players like me and OP

I have very similar experiences. It is reassuring to see that this is a common phenomenon. Something that I also sometimes experience is higher rated players being very sore losers, sometimes even to the point of leaving abusive comments on my profile page. Case in point, "begs for a draw like a coward, and then runs with his luck" - goobenhymer

i'd agree here. i'm sure i play like a 1200 at times and an 1800 a few less times. even a 1200 might find that great move, or, just get lucky. this could be on a day when you're not playing you're best, and you feel like the opponent had help.