Always play your normal opening.
If you change because you are playing a stronger player you are halfway to losing the psychological battle.
In the game try to muddy the position as much as possible, do not go into simple technical positions a stronger player will outplay you in such positions.
I beat an IM playing the Mikenas system of the English
1c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 e4 !
Here I would normally play 3 g3 but chose a more messy line.
brussels gambit really makes them sit up and notice i drew v a player rated 400 points higher in an online game my online is now 1618 was 1559 at time of game
i was black
e4 c5 knf3 f5
Thanks for the input. That game wasn't my best moment. :). But suppose you had to play a master. No matter what you do you probably lose. But what is your best chance?
Play something fun, like 1. a3 2. c3 3. e3 4. g3 
brussels gambit really makes them sit up and notice
of what they might be able to take from you.
I agree with you, ghost. I don't have the cojones to try that opening.
ghostofmaroczy wrote:
Talfan1 wrote:
brussels gambit really makes them sit up and notice
of what they might be able to take from you.
The psychology of playing someone online is different than in real life, because you cannot judge his/her mental state.
I can't help you in your actual game play, however, one thing to think about, which you may not have considered, is that just as his higher rank makes you nervous, your rank may make him more relaxed. Perhaps it will help you be more confident in the future if you remember that your higher ranked opponent is more likely to blunder.
But blueemu. If I play a standard line I know well it is likely the master knows it better. Thisi s the dilemma.
blueemu wrote:
Against a stronger player, you should stick to systems that you are familiar with, as long as they are active and reasonably sound. The key words in that sentence are SOUND, ACTIVE and FAMILIAR.
It's a mistake to try something crazy, since the stronger player is likely to be better in crazy tactics, and probably knows the lines better than you do, anyway.
It is also a mistake to try to get a draw by playing "safe", passive moves. You cannot draw by playing "safe" moves... you have to play "good" moves.
A Master got to be a Master by playing a LOT of chess and studyiing a LOT of games. It is highly unlikely you'll find an opening that he isn't at least somewhat familiar with. On the other hand, unless you have studied it heavily he will know it better than you.
I agree with you, ghost. I don't have the cojones to try that opening.
ghostofmaroczy wrote:
Talfan1 wrote:
brussels gambit really makes them sit up and notice
of what they might be able to take from you.
mike,
Perhaps you could try the Ukrainian Defense, Cojones Variation:
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 c6 4 e4 d5 5 e5 Ne4
Just play your normal opening. Or you could play something drawish like the French Exchange as you'd usually be happy with a draw against a stronger player.
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Wrong place to spam.
So, skip the English and go Fried Liver? Nom nom...