VS Higher Rated Players

I am a low level player, and I have mixed feelings when going against players who have a higher rating. Sometimes Even before the game begins I kinda react like "Oh ****" (especially in tournaments being paired against people 200-600 + rating on me), but at the same time I really want to give it my all since the only way to get better is to give it your all in your games (on top of studying, further practice, etc..). I understand zen mode exists but learning how to mentally prepare against any opponent is very important (at least to me) and I also see this as a learning experience for me.

So my question for everyone is : How do you all handle being against a higher level opponent, is it a learning experience? A quick throw in the towel? Throw pieces at them? BongCloud?

I think you must truly want to win. When I play with stronger players and lose, my first reaction is to want to play again. I can play 10, 20, 30 games against someone stronger, in each game I will try to be better than the last. The desire to win makes me play better.

Feel ashamed to lose. Don't think that because your opponent is stronger then you deserve to lose. I believe this will make you play better. You will play better against stronger players than against similar or weaker players. You'll even enjoy playing against stronger players!

My personality is like that, so I don't know if it's the right way to act. But if it is, then the key ingredient is 'pride' or even 'arrogance'. One could call this a "strong character". The point is that you need to want to win, otherwise you will lose concentration, be careless, accept your opponent's schedule, etc.

Playing against a player 400 points higher is like going on a date with Mike Tyson.

@RubySeaTurtle

I had an experience that resolved this problem, so it's much easier for me to sit and preach from my perspective; but maybe if I tell you the story that happened to me, and you pretend that it happened to you, then you will be able to benefit in the same way that I have:

One day, I was up against someone 200 points my better. I was stuck at a position for several minutes as I couldn't sort out a plan. My radar told me that it was a critical position, but I couldn't understand why.

I had to deal with a phone call away from my computer for a minute, and when I returned, I saw a piece that could be easily captured. I traded my pawn for his bishop and went on to win the game.

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What happened?
Cognitive dissonance happened.

When you BELIEVE that someone is much better than you and wouldn't make a stupid mistake...you will be unable to find that mistake when it occurs.

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I know that you're sitting there saying, "Pffft, what a bunch of crappy advice. Of course I'll see an easy tactic that wins the game if it's there. FEARING my opponent's rating won't really matter one way or another."

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I am telling you. It very much matters.

Every move, make sure that you take time to assume that your opponent just made a game losing error.
Sit down with the ASSUMPTION that your opponent is having a terrible day and is playing below your level.
KNOW that you will find and exploit a weakness in his position, and simply make it your mission to make this happen. There will be no time to worry about rating difference if you do this.

When you blunder check for your own mistakes, repeat the process for your opponent.

You'll be amazed at what you start to find when you stop over respecting higher-rated players.

There is very little difference between 1800 and 1900, and 1900 and 2000.

It takes very little to crush a higher-rated player.

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FURTHER, I'll remind you that they have an "overlook" psychology at play as applies to you!

Just like you can't see their mistakes, they can't see what you have planned either!

ANY cunning plan...
Anything that's remotely wily...
Anything that is particularly out of the norm or somewhat complex...

...and it's a guaranteed win for you.

I'd MUCH rather play someone 200 points my better who's having a bad day and considers me a mark, than to play someone 100 points below me that's on his game and considers my every move to be a brilliant threat that needs to be defended against and counteracted.

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"Over-respecting" your opponent, aka "fearing your opponent", is a guaranteed loss.
Just tip your king and go do something else with your time if you find yourself in fear.
Between you self-mating, and your opponent trying to checkmate you, it's all but guaranteed a loss.

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If you want it summed up in 2 words...it's like that children's book says...

"Everybody Poops"

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Good luck and make sure that you keep us updated!

Timegod
39 hours ago
#3
Playing against a player 400 points higher is like going on a date with Mike Tyson.

But Mike Tyson is going down

@Onyx_Chess I can second this advice. Something similar happened in an OTB tournament but instead of a phone call I just needed to get some water. Came back to find a hanging piece. As Carlsen says, "My opponent is an idiot till proven otherwise."

@Onyx_Chess your advice and some of the things you say at the top don't work at higher levels...

@ezasucanget

At the higher levels openings preparation and the capacity to understand, store, and recall an unbelievable amount of openings and variations is critical.

Masters will study against their specific opponents, absorbing dozens of their games, and understand what variations are most likely to be expected.

But this is apples and oranges advice because when GMs look 3-5-10 moves into a variation, they see and understand entire games that played out in that opening.

Off the top of my head, I can't tell you which openings will most likely end up KRP vs KR.
I imagine that 100% of GMs know this information cold.

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So the advice from one set of people to the next can't possibly be compatible.
My comment was obviously directed at the 99% of the people that would read the post.

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Was there a particular reason that you stated that fact?

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Edit: I got confused about which post you were referring to.

Yes. Of course this advice works at higher levels.

1. How many times have we heard players express a distracting intimidation factor when playing Magnus?

2. How many times has someone played differently, less comfortably, against Magnus due to the fear that he has all of their best play memorized and countered?

I love playing the highest possible rated opponents. When you lose you lose less rating points, if you win, you win more points. When you lose you get to learn and improve! View this as them giving you a free lesson and showing you your mistakes.

As far as attitude goes, when I face 2300s and 2400s my first reaction is “I’m going to rip this guy’s head off, I will pressure his clock, make good moves, and keep my position centralized, solid, and my king safe, no pawn grabbing, no long thinking, no fear, if I lose, I lose, no big deal! Let’s go!”

@Kusokosla

Yup. That's exactly what it is.

That's exactly it.

When I have success against higher rated players, that's the thought in my mind when I move 1. or 1. ... .

And then there is a creative freedom that's there that would otherwise be constrained by doubt and ghosts and focusing on problems instead of solutions.