Do you really get better by playing opponents higher rated than you?

Yes it's important to play against high rated players. But if you play against the higher player with a huge rating you will learn nothing.

You can apply this rule in every game whether it is tennis or chess.

See this picture

MY DAD TAUIUGHT ME CHESS WHEN I WAS AGE 8.  THEN HE WON 100 GAMES IN A ROW. AND I LEARNED FROM EACH GAME. 

KEPT PLAYING AND FINALLY I WAS WINNING ALL THE GAMES. 

ALWAYS TRY TO PLAY PLAYERS WHO ARE BETTER THAN YOU.

[SORRY FOR CAPS---MEDICAL CONDITION]

Wow, this original post is 10 years old.

If we always play against stronger players then we might spend way too long on moves, be very unaggressive, and be terrible at noticing when an opponent has made a mistake.

The best way in my opinion is , when playing against a GM in a OTB simul, which I have been part of against 2 IMs and one GM.

See how they deal with the Sicilian Dragon or the QG declined.