28 Apr 06
this is a bit odd...
• either I'm destined to be the next grandmaster (highly unlikely)
• or luck is on my side
My rating has almost hit 1600. I'm winning around 80% of my games. But...
I'm totally uncomfortable playing games at this level, what happens? Does my rating level off after a while? I'm only after taking up chess in January @ 31 years old, and admittedly - I'm hooked. I'm playing online everyday here and loving it! I'm reading loads of chess books, doing loads of puzzles, getting much sharper at my game. But the games against higher rated players are in a league of their own, a totally different ball game altogether. I'm not comfortable playing these games, I feel i'm in way over my head. So do I keep playing 1300/1400 games till my rating goes through the roof? I'm confused...
J
28 Apr 06
Originally posted by onyx2006You should play people who you beat 30-50% of the time, depending on how much punishment you can take.
this is a bit odd...
• either I'm destined to be the next grandmaster (highly unlikely)
• or luck is on my side
My rating has almost hit 1600. I'm winning around 80% of my games. But...
I'm totally uncomfortable playing games at this level, what happens? Does my rating level off after a while? I'm only after taking up chess in January @ 31 years ...[text shortened]... eep playing 1300/1400 games till my rating goes through the roof? I'm confused...
J
28 Apr 06
Originally posted by AThousandYoungmeaning 0-150 pts higher than yourself.
You should play people who you beat 30-50% of the time, depending on how much punishment you can take.
onyx, playing lower rated opponents is good for your self esteem, but it won't teach you much. they won't catch the mistakes that keep you on your current level, and so you won't even know you did any. remember, losing is good, it always gives you an opportunity to improve.
28 Apr 06
Originally posted by wormwoodcheers 🙂
meaning 0-150 pts higher than yourself.
onyx, playing lower rated opponents is good for your self esteem, but it won't teach you much. they won't catch the mistakes that keep you on your current level, and so you won't even know you did any. remember, losing is good, it always gives you an opportunity to improve.
Your right, my self esteem has gone through the roof! I need to get my ass kicked and study the game afterwards...
28 Apr 06
Originally posted by onyx2006btw, winning percentage gives you also the info about the average rating of your opponents. 50% means the same rating as yours, 75% means you're playing 200 pts weaker players than yourself, on average.
My rating has almost hit 1600. I'm winning around 80% of my games. But...
but it's also quite easy to get quite high rating beating up low rated players. if you play those games carefully, you seldom lose. -so, if you play against two 1600's, the other one having 80% winning ratio and the other one 30%, you can bet the one playing higher opponents will be a lot harder adversary.
28 Apr 06
Originally posted by wormwoodYou wil do better in the long run (if it doesn't totally crush your self esteem) by playing people near your own rating or higher. I am giving up Split and Grand style tournaments because all the weaker competition ends up artificially inflating my rating by about 100 points. One major downside of this is that all my clan games are against people rated ~1650 and I am losing matches for all my clans.
btw, winning percentage gives you also the info about the average rating of your opponents. 50% means the same rating as yours, 75% means you're playing 200 pts weaker players than yourself, on average.
but it's also quite easy to get quite high rating beating up low rated players. if you play those games carefully, you seldom lose. -so, if you play agai ...[text shortened]... e other one 30%, you can bet the one playing higher opponents will be a lot harder adversary.
28 Apr 06
Originally posted by wormwoodI agree, play people who are a little better then yourself. That way you keep on learning. Reading books is nice and will make you better but withouth the experience book knowledge will not take you there.
meaning 0-150 pts higher than yourself.
onyx, playing lower rated opponents is good for your self esteem, but it won't teach you much. they won't catch the mistakes that keep you on your current level, and so you won't even know you did any. remember, losing is good, it always gives you an opportunity to improve.
28 Apr 06
Originally posted by wormwoodI disagree with this. You are right about playing stronger players; but playing less gifted opponents can be useful as well, as it gives you a chance to play model games. Assuming your opponent doesn't just drop material you get an opportunity to carry out plans (minority attacks etc.) or try out new openings and see how they work against an opponent who won't deliberately make it hard for you.
meaning 0-150 pts higher than yourself.
onyx, playing lower rated opponents is good for your self esteem, but it won't teach you much. they won't catch the mistakes that keep you on your current level, and so you won't even know you did any. remember, losing is good, it always gives you an opportunity to improve.
28 Apr 06
Originally posted by onyx2006Games against higher rated players are the games i've enjoyed most,
should I challenge some of the big guns here and get beaten down to size?
2 players/games come to mind - General Putzer & Telboy 2 - Got hammered by both of them and tried my hardest, just trying to figure out where i'm at?!
Yep- I've losted them, but it's given me endless hours of thinking where i went wrong, and what i need to do next time out......😞
29 Apr 06
Originally posted by DeepThoughtPart of the general consensus to becoming better at chess is to play players stronger than you. When you play weaker players, your (not-so-good) tactics may/probably will work against them; you learn the wrong way/an ineffective way to play chess. Playing stronger players will prevent this and show you which tactics work--the hard way. When you lose, have a stronger player go over your games to show you where you could improve.
I disagree with this. You are right about playing stronger players; but playing less gifted opponents can be useful as well, as it gives you a chance to play model games. Assuming your opponent doesn't just drop material you get an opportunity to carry out plans (minority attacks etc.) or try out new openings and see how they work against an opponent who won't deliberately make it hard for you.
29 Apr 06
Originally posted by onyx2006Dude, you're probably 1600+ and playing those 1300-1500 players isn't really a challenge. You'll usually win most of your games. Play some clan games, like the other dude said. Play against your own rating. You have more fun, too.
this is a bit odd...
• either I'm destined to be the next grandmaster (highly unlikely)
• or luck is on my side
My rating has almost hit 1600. I'm winning around 80% of my games. But...
I'm totally uncomfortable playing games at this level, what happens? Does my rating level off after a while? I'm only after taking up chess in January @ 31 years ...[text shortened]... eep playing 1300/1400 games till my rating goes through the roof? I'm confused...
J
30 Apr 06
Originally posted by onyx2006If you want your grade to be accurate, you should join a Clan. Don't worry if your grade goes up and down a bit. Eventually you will become accustomed to playing stronger players and will improve quicker than if you just dish out whoopings to weaker players.
this is a bit odd...
• either I'm destined to be the next grandmaster (highly unlikely)
• or luck is on my side
My rating has almost hit 1600. I'm winning around 80% of my games. But...
I'm totally uncomfortable playing games at this level, what happens? Does my rating level off after a while? I'm only after taking up chess in January @ 31 years ...[text shortened]... eep playing 1300/1400 games till my rating goes through the roof? I'm confused...
J
30 Apr 06
I agree joining a clan is the best thing you can do. Players in clans tend to avoid engine use as much and you tend to learn alot more.
The thing i hate most is playing people who show the same rating as you but then when you check their graph and performance you can see they are hundreds of points higher than yourself.
People who lower their ratings so they can win more clan and tournament games anoy me more than engine users. As people say the best way to learn is to player higher rated players so you can find out what are the best sort of opening for you or to counter other peoples opening sucessfully.