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Higher-Rated Players Want You to Be Afraid of Them

This also applies well to poker. (With players folding or checking too much out of 'respect' too much for the opponent, or conversely, giving them too much credit for bluffs)

This also applies well to poker. (With players folding or checking too much out of 'respect' too much for the opponent, or conversely, giving them too much credit for bluffs)

@MattyDPerrine
True, im 2168 std and When I was in my national youth the first round I was lost vs a 1700, ( i was over pressing) at +3 In an ending I offered him a draw, he played a weak move bringing it to +1, and offered me a draw, which I accepted. the fear got the better of him. I went on to win the event, things could have turned quite differently if he declined that offer- Your statement about the lingering offer in their head, works magic, since as you stated, it plagues them throughout the game. I escaped with this device many times. But once, my 1900 rated opponent knew he was better, and fought to victory.
What would be your advice for us higher rateds to take home the point vs the lower rateds? I usually prep hard, bring my A-game, exploit their small inaccuracies, and it wins itself, as long As i play well and forget the digits.

@MattyDPerrine True, im 2168 std and When I was in my national youth the first round I was lost vs a 1700, ( i was over pressing) at +3 In an ending I offered him a draw, he played a weak move bringing it to +1, and offered me a draw, which I accepted. the fear got the better of him. I went on to win the event, things could have turned quite differently if he declined that offer- Your statement about the lingering offer in their head, works magic, since as you stated, it plagues them throughout the game. I escaped with this device many times. But once, my 1900 rated opponent knew he was better, and fought to victory. What would be your advice for us higher rateds to take home the point vs the lower rateds? I usually prep hard, bring my A-game, exploit their small inaccuracies, and it wins itself, as long As i play well and forget the digits.

I find the mistake lower rated players make a lot, especially in faster time formats, is thinking simplification favours them. I believe the thinking is the higher rated player will have better calculation skills and come up with checkmating attacks.

In reality I find the endgame is markedly easier to push for a win when I'm against a lower rated player, and where I almost always lose as a lower rated opponent. The calculation isn't as intuitive in the endgame, taking the pawn? push the pawn? Leave the pawn? It can be very hard.

Conversely almost all the wins I've had against higher rated players were due to good opening prep or them misjudging the speed of an attack (it also feels like where I've lost the most to lower rated players).

I find the mistake lower rated players make a lot, especially in faster time formats, is thinking simplification favours them. I believe the thinking is the higher rated player will have better calculation skills and come up with checkmating attacks. In reality I find the endgame is markedly easier to push for a win when I'm against a lower rated player, and where I almost always lose as a lower rated opponent. The calculation isn't as intuitive in the endgame, taking the pawn? push the pawn? Leave the pawn? It can be very hard. Conversely almost all the wins I've had against higher rated players were due to good opening prep or them misjudging the speed of an attack (it also feels like where I've lost the most to lower rated players).

Probably the best blog for lower rateds. Kudos dude! Caruana can read it too for Carlsen :) (Hehe just kidding).

Probably the best blog for lower rateds. Kudos dude! Caruana can read it too for Carlsen :) (Hehe just kidding).

@MBurns2020 said ^

@MattyDPerrine
True, im 2168 std and When I was in my national youth the first round I was lost vs a 1700, ( i was over pressing) at +3 In an ending I offered him a draw, he played a weak move bringing it to +1, and offered me a draw, which I accepted. the fear got the better of him. I went on to win the event, things could have turned quite differently if he declined that offer- Your statement about the lingering offer in their head, works magic, since as you stated, it plagues them throughout the game. I escaped with this device many times. But once, my 1900 rated opponent knew he was better, and fought to victory.
What would be your advice for us higher rateds to take home the point vs the lower rateds? I usually prep hard, bring my A-game, exploit their small inaccuracies, and it wins itself, as long As i play well and forget the digits.

I wrote a blog post about this topic (being the higher-rated player playing against lower-rated players) here: https://lichess.org/@/MattyDPerrine/blog/why-masters-crush-lower-rated-players-and-you-struggle/TKtxgBfX

@MBurns2020 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/aDWEfui6) > @MattyDPerrine > True, im 2168 std and When I was in my national youth the first round I was lost vs a 1700, ( i was over pressing) at +3 In an ending I offered him a draw, he played a weak move bringing it to +1, and offered me a draw, which I accepted. the fear got the better of him. I went on to win the event, things could have turned quite differently if he declined that offer- Your statement about the lingering offer in their head, works magic, since as you stated, it plagues them throughout the game. I escaped with this device many times. But once, my 1900 rated opponent knew he was better, and fought to victory. > What would be your advice for us higher rateds to take home the point vs the lower rateds? I usually prep hard, bring my A-game, exploit their small inaccuracies, and it wins itself, as long As i play well and forget the digits. I wrote a blog post about this topic (being the higher-rated player playing against lower-rated players) here: https://lichess.org/@/MattyDPerrine/blog/why-masters-crush-lower-rated-players-and-you-struggle/TKtxgBfX

@MattyDPerrine said ^

@MattyDPerrine
True, im 2168 std and When I was in my national youth the first round I was lost vs a 1700, ( i was over pressing) at +3 In an ending I offered him a draw, he played a weak move bringing it to +1, and offered me a draw, which I accepted. the fear got the better of him. I went on to win the event, things could have turned quite differently if he declined that offer- Your statement about the lingering offer in their head, works magic, since as you stated, it plagues them throughout the game. I escaped with this device many times. But once, my 1900 rated opponent knew he was better, and fought to victory.
What would be your advice for us higher rateds to take home the point vs the lower rateds? I usually prep hard, bring my A-game, exploit their small inaccuracies, and it wins itself, as long As i play well and forget the digits.

I wrote a blog post about this topic (being the higher-rated player playing against lower-rated players) here: https://lichess.org/@/MattyDPerrine/blog/why-masters-crush-lower-rated-players-and-you-struggle/TKtxgBfX
thanks

@MattyDPerrine said [^](/forum/redirect/post/kSoUdO4G) > > @MattyDPerrine > > True, im 2168 std and When I was in my national youth the first round I was lost vs a 1700, ( i was over pressing) at +3 In an ending I offered him a draw, he played a weak move bringing it to +1, and offered me a draw, which I accepted. the fear got the better of him. I went on to win the event, things could have turned quite differently if he declined that offer- Your statement about the lingering offer in their head, works magic, since as you stated, it plagues them throughout the game. I escaped with this device many times. But once, my 1900 rated opponent knew he was better, and fought to victory. > > What would be your advice for us higher rateds to take home the point vs the lower rateds? I usually prep hard, bring my A-game, exploit their small inaccuracies, and it wins itself, as long As i play well and forget the digits. > > I wrote a blog post about this topic (being the higher-rated player playing against lower-rated players) here: https://lichess.org/@/MattyDPerrine/blog/why-masters-crush-lower-rated-players-and-you-struggle/TKtxgBfX thanks

Great blog I also have seen both sides of the board that you are describing.

Great blog I also have seen both sides of the board that you are describing.

Yes I am like 1200 on lichess and often the fear of playing a 1300-1350 gets the better of me. Update: Just after reading this post I beat a 1258 rated player on lichess in rapid while being 1170 myself. Now I am 1195 rated, one step clser to 1300!

Yes I am like 1200 on lichess and often the fear of playing a 1300-1350 gets the better of me. Update: Just after reading this post I beat a 1258 rated player on lichess in rapid while being 1170 myself. Now I am 1195 rated, one step clser to 1300!

@Injuk said ^

Yes I am like 1200 on lichess and often the fear of playing a 1300-1350 gets the better of me. Update: Just after reading this post I beat a 1258 rated player on lichess in rapid while being 1170 myself. Now I am 1195 rated, one step clser to 1300!

Nice job! keep up the good work

@Injuk said [^](/forum/redirect/post/pvBZwwVX) > Yes I am like 1200 on lichess and often the fear of playing a 1300-1350 gets the better of me. Update: Just after reading this post I beat a 1258 rated player on lichess in rapid while being 1170 myself. Now I am 1195 rated, one step clser to 1300! Nice job! keep up the good work