lichess.org
Donate

Road to NM -- Week 14: 1600!!!

adeetiey

As for whether you should play in the U1600 or 1600 to 2000 section, I think that it depends on how confident you are in your own ability to play in a more positional game, because I feel that that will happen more at higher levels (correct me if I am wrong it certainly does on Lichess), and I have gathered that you prefer sharp attacking positions over grindy positional ones, but I think it is a decision that you should make based on your own evaluation of your abilities.
Congrats on reaching 1600!

As for whether you should play in the U1600 or 1600 to 2000 section, I think that it depends on how confident you are in your own ability to play in a more positional game, because I feel that that will happen more at higher levels (correct me if I am wrong it certainly does on Lichess), and I have gathered that you prefer sharp attacking positions over grindy positional ones, but I think it is a decision that you should make based on your own evaluation of your abilities. Congrats on reaching 1600!
TheCommandalorian

@adeetiey said ^

As for whether you should play in the U1600 or 1600 to 2000 section, I think that it depends on how confident you are in your own ability to play in a more positional game, because I feel that that will happen more at higher levels (correct me if I am wrong it certainly does on Lichess), and I have gathered that you prefer sharp attacking positions over grindy positional ones, but I think it is a ...

I think my ultimate decision unless others say to do otherwise will be to play up if I can for no charge. The vast majority of tournaments I play in would be either not very many rounds or only opponents lower than me (which would be the case for every round in the under 1600. So, this is probably my best chance to get at least experienced against high rated players (I've never even had the opportunity to play anyone over 1800) and my best chance to gain rating that I'll probably have available until Nationals in December. Thanks for your support on the blog!

@adeetiey said [^](/forum/redirect/post/zBfbdnxz) > As for whether you should play in the U1600 or 1600 to 2000 section, I think that it depends on how confident you are in your own ability to play in a more positional game, because I feel that that will happen more at higher levels (correct me if I am wrong it certainly does on Lichess), and I have gathered that you prefer sharp attacking positions over grindy positional ones, but I think it is a ... I think my ultimate decision unless others say to do otherwise will be to play up if I can for no charge. The vast majority of tournaments I play in would be either not very many rounds or only opponents lower than me (which would be the case for every round in the under 1600. So, this is probably my best chance to get at least experienced against high rated players (I've never even had the opportunity to play anyone over 1800) and my best chance to gain rating that I'll probably have available until Nationals in December. Thanks for your support on the blog!
asherchces

I think you should definitely play in the 1600-2000 section. I just reached 1800 USCF purely from wins and draws from higher rated players. If you play in the U1600, you have a good chance of winning, but one wrong game and you're back under 1600. I'd say take the risk, and try to get a few draws.

I think you should definitely play in the 1600-2000 section. I just reached 1800 USCF purely from wins and draws from higher rated players. If you play in the U1600, you have a good chance of winning, but one wrong game and you're back under 1600. I'd say take the risk, and try to get a few draws.
asherchces

And good luck at nationals! Maybe I'll see you there! What section are you playing in?

And good luck at nationals! Maybe I'll see you there! What section are you playing in?
adeetiey

@asherchces said ^

I think you should definitely play in the 1600-2000 section. I just reached 1800 USCF purely from wins and draws from higher rated players. If you play in the U1600, you have a good chance of winning, but one wrong game and you're back under 1600. I'd say take the risk, and try to get a few draws.

Yeah, if you want to get a few easy wins, you can do U1600, but doing 1600-2000, while you will have a harder time winning the section, it will be a good opportunity to beat higher rated players, and at the very least get good experience

@asherchces said [^](/forum/redirect/post/rHmOCNeg) > I think you should definitely play in the 1600-2000 section. I just reached 1800 USCF purely from wins and draws from higher rated players. If you play in the U1600, you have a good chance of winning, but one wrong game and you're back under 1600. I'd say take the risk, and try to get a few draws. Yeah, if you want to get a few easy wins, you can do U1600, but doing 1600-2000, while you will have a harder time winning the section, it will be a good opportunity to beat higher rated players, and at the very least get good experience
adeetiey

I mean, I don't play OTB too consistently, I was 1300 for like 1 year, but then I played 3 tournaments and now I am 1575. I played up in 2 of them and 1 was grade level, so it seems like playing up is good. Just my experience though, and also holding draws seemed to really help my rating against higher rated players :)

I mean, I don't play OTB too consistently, I was 1300 for like 1 year, but then I played 3 tournaments and now I am 1575. I played up in 2 of them and 1 was grade level, so it seems like playing up is good. Just my experience though, and also holding draws seemed to really help my rating against higher rated players :)
TheCommandalorian

@asherchces said ^

And good luck at nationals! Maybe I'll see you there! What section are you playing in?

K-12 but it depends on where your nationals are at because mine is in Orlando

@asherchces said [^](/forum/redirect/post/mNxDHahD) > And good luck at nationals! Maybe I'll see you there! What section are you playing in? K-12 but it depends on where your nationals are at because mine is in Orlando
TheCommandalorian

@adeetiey said ^

I think you should definitely play in the 1600-2000 section. I just reached 1800 USCF purely from wins and draws from higher rated players. If you play in the U1600, you have a good chance of winning, but one wrong game and you're back under 1600. I'd say take the risk, and try to get a few draws.

Yeah, if you want to get a few easy wins, you ...

I wanted to play in the 1600-2000 section, but unfortunately I didn't ask to move up in time and the pairings were already finalized. I played very poorly in day one, with 1.5/3 but all against lower rated opponents so I have one more round today (i'm taking a 4th round bye because of church) but I will lose rating regardless now

@adeetiey said [^](/forum/redirect/post/a7Z2R0ZV) > > I think you should definitely play in the 1600-2000 section. I just reached 1800 USCF purely from wins and draws from higher rated players. If you play in the U1600, you have a good chance of winning, but one wrong game and you're back under 1600. I'd say take the risk, and try to get a few draws. > > Yeah, if you want to get a few easy wins, you ... I wanted to play in the 1600-2000 section, but unfortunately I didn't ask to move up in time and the pairings were already finalized. I played very poorly in day one, with 1.5/3 but all against lower rated opponents so I have one more round today (i'm taking a 4th round bye because of church) but I will lose rating regardless now
TheCommandalorian

@asherchces said ^

I think you should definitely play in the 1600-2000 section. I just reached 1800 USCF purely from wins and draws from higher rated players. If you play in the U1600, you have a good chance of winning, but one wrong game and you're back under 1600. I'd say take the risk, and try to get a few draws.

And that's exactly what happened, I really struggled day 1, I blew 2 completely winning positions because I just wasn't maintaining focus for the whole game and let the first one where I was up an exchange and a pawn slip to a draw against a 1400, and against a 1470 I was up a pawn on like move 8 and I just completely imploded and lost.

@asherchces said [^](/forum/redirect/post/rHmOCNeg) > I think you should definitely play in the 1600-2000 section. I just reached 1800 USCF purely from wins and draws from higher rated players. If you play in the U1600, you have a good chance of winning, but one wrong game and you're back under 1600. I'd say take the risk, and try to get a few draws. And that's exactly what happened, I really struggled day 1, I blew 2 completely winning positions because I just wasn't maintaining focus for the whole game and let the first one where I was up an exchange and a pawn slip to a draw against a 1400, and against a 1470 I was up a pawn on like move 8 and I just completely imploded and lost.