How do I beat a 2000+?

Only 2 of the games I've played with 2000s were people over 21, so I don't think that strategy will work out that well. 

play chess in england, the legal age for drinking is 18

Still wouldn't help me. Highest rated player I've faced was only 14.

take them to a restaurant and buy them a meal, then they only have to be 5 years old to legally be able to consume a alcoholic drink.

but then again, if you get into a habit of taking 14 year olds to restaurants and getting them drunk you could end up in a different kinda trouble!

Well, I'd also be taking them to England for the sole purpose of making them worse at chess. That might raise a few eyebrows.

yeah, maybe need a different plan of action... 

If hard work and studying don't help.  Have you thought of standing up and screaming, "your queen keeps on making unwelcomed remarks to me.  If she doesn't stop, I will be forced to take my captured pawn and (insert whatever you feel like saying here)."  If that does not make your opponent resign, then there is no other way of winning.

The easiest solution is to find a site which is over-rated, and play there. ;-)

In "What it takes to become a Chess Master" -Soltis, he says very simply, The difference between all the classes is in the amount of mistakes.  2000+ will very rarely make mistakes, and to beat them, you have to make fewer, and if they do, you have to take advantage of it right away. It's just like you said, your play is inconsistant, therefore you aren't gaining rating. 

When I stopped playing silly openings cause they were fun, and learned some very solid lines (not sharp lines), I gained rating - FAST.  When you learn to play solid chess and engrain the "feeling" of playing solid I find it much easier to find good moves - defensive or offensive.  If you are playing solid chess, there is less room for error to creep in.  

Note though, that I am not saying passive chess.  While I play less sharp openings, I play good solid chess by contesting the center, getting king safe, etc.  For example as black vs e4 I play the French, Caro, or the Qd6 Scandinavian. As white, Nf3 I find is very flexible or Queen's Gambit. (Or Nf3 leading to Queen's pawn openings). 

If you give lower rated players sharp lines to play, they might cash in :)  (especially if they are talented kids up and coming :))

Instead of learning how to beat a 2000+ learn how to beat a 1500 with consistant results :)

jminkler makes a good point: one of the biggest things that holds players back is the garbage openings that they play.

Even in chess.com forums it amazes how often people refer to such openings as "fun" or "exciting," but you know what is really fun? Beating good players with good chess.

If you want to beat players rated 2000+...DO NOT play unsound openings. You're just asking for a probable loss (that a lot of players will then blame on "well, he was 2000 anyway").

I don't agree with jminkler in that, why shouldn't one learn how to beat higher-rateds? Isn't that the point of competing?

Here's a game that should give you some encouragement:

It shows how 2000s can make mistakes too. 

Beating a 2000+ is doable. But not easy. You need to prepare.

First, it is very impirtant that you arrive at the game drunk. Very drunk. More drunk than you've ever been in your life. Then a little more drunk beyond that. That's Step 1. (Nobody said chess was going to be easy, so bear with me.)

Second. Canned sardines. And raw garlic. This is no time to nibble. Cram as much as you can down your throat as you can. If you puke, pick yourself up, and keep cramming, soldier. Today is No-Excuses Day. That's Step 2.

Step three involves blasting Miley Cyrus teeny-bop into your ears on the drive there. It is very important you use the vehicle with the loudest sound system you an find. If neccesary, borrow a friend car. Or rent one. Your ears must be bleeding. You may even try cutting a coupke eye-holes in a metal bucket, and putting that over your head while you drive. For the echo effect.

You are now prepared to face your Expert-level opponent. Go forth and conquer!!!!

.

.

.

.

,

I have been referring to 2000+ OTB in my comments. Online ratings are meaningless, whether on chess.com, ICC, or whatever.

Is this you? http://main.uschess.org/datapage/gamestats.php?memid=14809886

chessmicky wrote:

"How do I beat a 2000+?"

I think playing well is your best strategy

.

I'll try that, when all else fails!

@EricFleet: Yes, but the wins I have against my opponents were in the Northwest rating system and not the USCF rating. Unfortunately I've tended to have poor results in the USCF, especially very early on, which shows my poor rating there.

This is a brilliant plan!  Pure genius.

mhmmmm

That's what I always assume.  Yeah the Internet tends to be inflated and it's nearly all either correspondance or speed chess. 

You need some luck. This is the only game I have won against a +2000 rated OTB opponent. He made some blunders.