Finding the correct rating range for fastest improvement in online chess

I like playing online chess and will soon do more of live chess but, when you restrict your online games within a specific rating range, you know when you want your opponent that your going to play to be - within a specific rating range? Like for example oh............800 to 1100? My current rating is not very good, it's 811 at the time of this writing but, I want to know the fastest way to get better in online chess so, does anybody know what's going to give you the best improvement related results for the future, when we're talking about deciding within what range of a rating your opponent should be, in mind of what YOUR rating currently is? So if I'm 811, should my opponent be 811 to 1100? Just your rating and anything 300 above? That's just an example. Maybe there should be something below too I don't know. I really want to know what the people who run chess.com, what they think but I didn't want to bother them because I read that it's in their interest for you to first try within the forums before you go and ask them. But please, no guesses. If I have to ask chess.com specifically I will. I just thought that maybe someone else has the best advice that they either got from here or from another source. No guesses. But, seeing that this is a forum for discussion, I have no problem with what anybody thinks. I embrace any kind of help. I just want to get better , (at LEAST in online chess, since it's a fact that you can restrict your games as an option), I want to get better in chess as fast as possible. No use in wasting time and effort getting better if there's a better way right? In my case that is, and for others.

Many thanks for any input. Goodbye

enter a -1000 or -1200 tournament.

For online chess I think I play -100 +300 or something. Live chess I always play -100 +100

Thanks man. I'll consider your advice. Thanks again

Nobody should ever play anyone rated lower than they are.

I like to play higher than me, the higher the better. Mostly because your main chess improvement will come from chess study, not chess playing. When you play stronger opponents constantly you'll be forced to play your best to win or even draw, and you'll get much better losses to analyze and find your weak areas. Thats my take on it anyway and what I am doing. It seems to be working so far, too!

Take this for what it could be worth to you, but

Personally I've learned more from playing and analyzing my losses against stronger players.

Put it this way, if you constantly play against opponents who are of a weaker playing strength than you (at least according to their current rating),

then the best you could hope to be after beating them all and gaining points is...

overrated.

Then when you play someone your own strength or greater,

the rating also comes back down to size.

However, if you always play against stronger opponents, then when it comes time to play people at your own rating, you're more likely to win more often and your rating will increase accordingly.

The only difference between the two approaches is when you play with stronger opponents, you'll own the true playing strength the rating represents and be a stronger player.

I agree with the posts above, playing someone higher than you will help you climb the ladder the quickest... (as long as youre studying each loss)I would say 150-200ish points higher than you is the best. Any higher and you could be getting crushed in every phase to the point where the number of lessons in each game is lower.

Sometimes you have to give to get. Its nice to accept offers from lower rateds from time to time and beat them (hopefully ) so they can improve. From what Ive seen of this sites corr. rating system Id probably be around 1900-2000, so if any 2k+ players would play me in 1 game that would be most appreciated.

Also, if any players of a lower rate want to challenge me to a 3day move game thats fine by me.

when i seek games i set the rating range to min = -100 and max = 2800 it is indeed best to play people better than you, and occasionally people wayyyyyy better than you, but if you ever start to lose confidence its good to play a few games against people your rating so you don't get feeling down about yourself for losing all the time ;)

You know, after (in the beginning of this thread) after I only thought I would get one suggestion, I went ahead and contacted the staff for this website about my question just to see what they would suggest. And they told me to come here and read all these replies! They said I have received alot of good feedback and you know what?; I have! Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I think I'm going to play, in online chess anyway, people who are at least 100 rating better than me to a top of about 200 as gotterdamerung66 had suggested. I'll have to of course add my own current rating cause apparently you have to have your own rating somewhere in there, but yeah, from my rating, to about 200 above. Thanks guys once again 

In my view, it is useful to have a -100 or even 150 to + 200.  If I'm in a bad place I'll limit to +100 to try to be more competitive and regain confidence.

I am at a very beginner level and I am working to get better, but I have to be realistic and enjoy the play. I am, slowly, improving so what I am doing is good for my skill set.

There is also another point not discussed here.  Because Chess.com starts new members at 1200 you actually never know who you are playing until you review their profile (after the game for me)  They could actually be new players yet to lose their rating.  Equally, someone under you on the rating may be actually a much more experienced and better player that has gone through a bad patch (it happens). Or it may be a 700 rated player with over 1000 games under his or her belt that can give you a run for your money if your lines are too recognizable. I have had an easier time with some higher-rated players than with some lower-rated.  The lower-rated were either harder to predict or were historically better rated and have not played, or played badly, for a little while. (ratings drop fast)

So keep some cushion on both sides of your rating and ALWAYS review the profile and maybe some past games of your adversaries after the game so you can tell if they are truly consistent at their rating, or you were just lucky.  It is also a good way to spot cheaters because sometimes the accuracy of their moves is just not in line at all with their historic games.  (another reason ratings can be deceiving. it is easy to cheat online.

How does that work lol