Do you get psyched out by rating?

We all to a degree get a little intimidated when we see we are paired with someone of a higher rating. How many hundreds of points higher does it take to put a scare in you and on the other end of the spectrum, how many points lower is your opponent when you start to think you've got it in the bag? I tend to get more intimidated if they are about 200 points higher, and I noticed I don't see them as a real threat if they are about 500 points lower.

i dont see them as a threat 300 points lower,

but i get intimidated if there about 200 points higher.

Under 1900 I always think I have a shot. Under 1300 I feel comfortable, sometimes to my detriment. So, I guess about 300 each way.

325 or 350 more scares me

250 less i feel good

I'm only rated 1125 ish so I have a chance within 1450 and less than 900 is pretty easy

I also go up and down a lot (in the last 3 months I've been at 1300 and 950)

I get really psyched out by a higher rating! To the point that I over analyse each move, and convince myself that I am making the wrong move, when I might be making a good one.

But in a way, it is good for me, because I really think hard about each move, whereas if I were playing a lower rated member, I might just throw pieces about carelessly.

I'm playing someone 300 points higher than me at the moment! :O *quiver*

don't matter. I crush them all ! TIC

Sure, but I tend to think most people know something I don't when playing. Which makes sense because I suck.

When I play a much much much higher ranked person like I recently did with PerfectGent. I play my best but am no longer intimidated. I know the chances of me winning are pretty slim so I start to look at it more as a learning oportunity.

I'm not intimidated by higher-rated people. It's a chance to learn and, probably, even gain some rating points. Meeting someone rated 200 points above (as the topic starter mentioned) is a wonderful experience - you don't play 2700+ players every day.

I don't really get psyched out by people with ratings above mine, in fact I play better when the significantly higher rated, however I have the same tendancy to play down against weaker players

You are 2501 FIDE. Nice! Do you change your intensity or strategy at all if you are paired with a 2700? Do you lower your guard a bit if you're paired with a 2000?

1500 and up - 1000 and below

Not so much points but just shear size of the point value... I know I am weird but that is how my brain works

On-line? Nope.

OTB? Yeah. I look at the rating, and subconciously set my expectations-and that keeps me from playing my best.

I just had a draw with someone rated 200+ points higher and I proposed the draw and avoided more complicated routes partly because of the rating difference, my chance of winning was small in the final position but I should have tried it since I was in no real danger.

About 1899 or less I feel I've got a very high chance of winning. About 2600 or more I'm worried I might be playing a computer unless I know the opponent. 1900-2600 always have a chance of a draw if we both play well. A win or loss would depend on a mistake and the other person noticing it.

only 1000 points higheer scares me in real life ( ia m way to underated) onl 1000 rating                      i get scared when facing this one guy at the club rated 1700 but plays like a FM

nothing my colle cant kill!

(Yunno, actually this whole colle thing might win more games if i was a 2200)

hahahaha this is hilarious! nice one padman

Im pretty intimidated when playing someone over 250 more than me!

And very comfortable and probably expect to win with people 200 less than me.

In between i think games go either way and easily be a draw

I reallt stink, and feel intimidated by an 1100 player  Never really feel like I have it in the bag, even w/ a 300 player (whom I beat :P)