IMJohnCox wrote on 11/21/13 at 15:43:32:

The writer doesn't deny that players over 2300 can be amateurs. He only states that to find sufficient interesting opponents for + 2300 players , you will have to search between professional chessplayers and as an amateur this is often very difficult to combine with the other occupations.
In fact I wrote a very similar article a few months ago on my blog about this aspect, see http://schaken-brabo.blogspot.be/2013/09/inactiviteit.html

In my club after being for about 20 years inactive, a strong player returned to active chess when he retired from his very demanding profession as he was not interested in playing some low level games in the local club. Beginning of this year he scored his first norm with a + 2600 performance at age 65: http://schaken-brabo.blogspot.be/2013/01/sterke-jan-scoort-een.html but clearly he is an exception.

Bizarre article. Of course players over 2300 can be amateurs. One of my team mates is a 2500 GM and I'm sure his banker employers would be very surprised to be told he was a non-amateur chessplayer.

Eric's point about continued success meaning you soon won't be able to play in lower sections is important. As also mentioned by Pale Horse, Pale Rider and Katar, the ability to beat lower rated players is important to learn and practice. I think there is also a pressure angle. Many players where I play are quite happy to take on stronger players to fight for a draw, knowing there is no expectation. However, when asked to play on a lower board where they will be expected to win, this affects their approach and takes them out of their comfort zone.
In general, playing up is the way to go, perhaps up to 250 points above you but never underestimate learning to deal with the pressure of expectation.

katar wrote on 11/21/13 at 00:27:31:


Thats sort of the choice. If you play much stronger players you are fighting uphill and lucky to get a draw...but you can learn from your mistakes etc.

If you play weaker players you can learn to attack and handle the initiative etc

Gerry1970 wrote on 11/20/13 at 23:14:44:


I dont feel so strong lol

Im 46. I learned the moves from library books as a kid...maybe 9 yrs old?

Didnt have any1 to play of course...this was way before the internet. I played a few games when I was 27ish. Then I discovered the internet around 2000 and started playing some.

I had an account on icc in around 2001 I guess? was probably around 14-1500 blitz

Then I joined ICC again in maybe 2003 or 2004.

I played sporadically online, unrated, always playing kings gambit....that brings us up to about summer 2012.

In 2012 I happened upon a local chess club in starbux and I got back into chess fairly seriously. This was the first time I really ever had a chance to play otb.

Somewhere in 2012 I joined chesstempo and have worked on my tactics fairly regularly

Then in about Oct 2012 I joined the uscf and did my first tourney and I came out with a 1575 rating. I now have 21 rated games under my belt with a 1758 rating.

Sometimes I feel I can play ok but other times I feel like a newb....like this past weekend, against 3 players weaker than me, I didnt really get much out of the openings.

I cant visualize
I cant calculate
I am ignorant of endgames
I am ignorant of how to play pawn breaks etc
My memory sucks

other than that Im ok

of the 21 tourney games ive played, im semi proud of 2 of them...the others were BS lol

Just wondering how you are so strong out of the blocks? Did you study a lot and play a lot online before your first tournament?

Gerry

I tend to agree with Eric, with a major caveat:

In large tournaments, play your rating group. If you are to do well there, you will still gain huge amounts of rating points and perhaps even win some money.

In smaller tournaments, playing one section up is often recommended. But in truth, this is a decision for you and your coach to make based on your progress, your goals, and so on.