Are titled players chicken?

A question for you ephyfe.... why haven't you played any of the lower rated players yet? chicken? In fact, what have you been doing here all this time?

**Anyway, I'm off to challenge Tiger Woods to a game of golf.... I've never played, but have watched some on T.V. and talk about it sometimes.... he'll play me, right? I mean, he's got to... especially if I say bad things about him**

Live Chess?  Is that a part of this site?  That might be the answer.  How do I get hooked up?  thanks.

Some of the young guys love the word troll.   I just have a question you twit.

Thanks Ray, that's good info there.  I'll give it a try.  I am not terrible, but not great.  Don't know the openings at all. I've played chess off and on for over 40 years now.  Mainly off.

I'm surprised. Usually when I see a topic like this the cause is quickly figured out by clicking on the link to the OP's profile and looking at their birthdate.

 More interesting is that you've apparently been a member of this site since September but still haven't played that many games. 

My biggest question tends to be "how do you know when you've plateaued and need assistance surpassing that level of play." That's the only reason to look at rating is to know what group of people you should play and since chess.com ratings don't equate to FIDE ones or whatnot (chess.com leaning towards inflated ones in comparison) it would be odd to say a titled player would be chicken when their title is more descriptive of their ability than a chess.com rating. 

 Bah. I may be out of line. I've only been playing chess for 6 months now afterall. 

There seem to be some misconceptions about the way ratings work:

 If a GM plays and loses to someone with no games under their belt, I don't believe they'd be hurt *that* much - the rating system keeps a variable accuracy of ratings.  Most likely, if someone with no recorded games beats a GM on their first game, they'll skyrocket to about the rating of that GM.  The GM, on the other hand, shouldn't lose that many points - I believe the certainty variable is used there as well, plus, the GM should have enough games such that their own certainty is high.

 To clarify more succinctly:

• A new player has a highly variable rating.  The 1200 default doesn't actually mean that much.
• If a GM loses to a player with no recorded games, it will likely affect their rating very little.
  

However, without any sort of history of games, a GM would be unlikely to play you.  Without some assurance that you do, in fact, know how to play chess, there is no guarantee that the game would be meaningful, much less instructive.

In all, if you wander into chess and try to challenge the grandmasters immediately, you'll likely find few results.  But if you establish yourself as a player, you may not have to ask. 

Random: they will lose a lot of points. I am only 1400-1500 and I lose quite a few points when I lose to new members.

Ephyfe: Here is the way I see how it works when you want to play high rated players. 

1) A good deal wont play non-paying members

2) Some will charge a fee if you are a very low rated player (compared to them)

3) Most (if not all) will not play a person with no games played here (Kind of makes sense since they receive quite a few email and new member would be last on the list)

You can also become a master yourself :)
Or just get any rating so you can play equal opponents

@sceneassassin: 6 months? impressive 

 Actually, you're just acting in a very rude and arrogant manner. And you're insulting lots of people.

Do you not have any respect for titled players? Their titles reflect years, perhaps decades, of hard work and dedication - not to mention the fact that they've proven their mastery of the game of chess time and time again, beating other masters in tournament competition. 

I like the analogy to golf. Go and challenge Tiger Woods to a game of golf. If he refuses, call him a chicken. 

If you have not even proven you can beat us non-GM's, how can you ever expect people who have good ratings to want to play you, even if you want them to?  Don't think that they owe you a game...that isn't fair.  If you want some stiff competition, play against Fritz.  If they honor you enough to snatch your king, you ought to be privileged.  Please have some respect for other people. 

You have to respect, if you wanna be respected! Nobody can force to play the art chess game! Greg

Los Angeles 

Just start respect, study and play with available players!

Greg 

Nice one Daishi, I completely agree with you.

Wrong. I beat a guy rated 0 and gained 1 point!

charge a fee?  Checkers tell me more, has anyone solicited you for money for a game or even a lesson?  If that's true that is more than just a no-no.  Maybe it's illegal.  I wonder how the management feels about people being solited?  Well thank you Checkers and everyone else for adding helpful comments.  I'm going to try the live chess and maybe some non-rated games.  I'm rusty, but still can play some.