So I am rated 1758 uscf (provisional with 21 games)

In otb tourneys should I be playing up into the next group, the "below 2000" group...or should I just stay where I am?

Here is how my last 2 tourneys went. I was rated 1668 and I played 3 players from 1517 to 1552 and I won all 3 games so my rating went to 1745. Then this weekend I played a 1520, a 1617, and a 1655 and I went 2.5 out of 3.

Its nice to win those games etc but is that really making me that much of a better player?

At the smaller tourneys I go to there are usually 2 groups at the top. Usually it would break down something like 1400-1750ish and then 1750ish and up would be the "open."

Should I just go ahead and play up to the open anyway?

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A guy in the local club has always played up. In less than 18 months he has went from 1750 to 2006 rating. He sort of stalled at about 1850 for a while, I suppose since he was playing guys 1900-2200 every week but in the last 4 tourneys he has went up like 150 points.

I just know the chess I am playing against 1500's is way weaker than what I will face from 1900's and above. Would I be better to go ahead and face the stronger guys now, even if I lose more games, or should I just play my way up gradually?