I got badly tilted these last few weeks and lost about 400 points of rating, from 1150 to 750 (chess.com blitz). Although I could see that the lower I got, the more mistakes my opponents made, I still lost almost every game, and it took me a while to get back to playing correctly.
## 700-rated players aren’t complete beginners and can’t be beaten without thinking
That’s one of the main things that kept me tilted: the lower I got, the more I expected to beat my opponents easily and without thinking. That doesn’t work: these players know some opening theory, spot many tactics, know some thematic ideas. It’s clear that they’re invested in chess and have learned material. If you play badly you will lose.
Although I’m low-rated myself, I would say this applies to everyone when playing lower-rated players, whatever the rating difference is. For example, in his speed runs, Daniel Naroditsky sometimes gets in a worse position, has to spend some time thinking, and gets back on track by playing a crazy complicated idea.
700 rated players are terrible at endgames
The previous paragraph is true for everything except endgames: I almost always won badly losing endgames, for example, knight+pawns vs rook+passed pawns, or even pawns vs rook+pawns. Don’t be afraid of a draw and get into the endgame if you’re low on time or don’t see a way forward in the middle game.
700-rated players attack a lot, and sloppily
That’s another thing that kept me tilted: compared to higher-rated opponents, these players attack more, even when it doesn’t work. I often panicked and lost material, or even resigned thinking they were mating attacks. However they’re often unsound, and by not panicking and taking enough time to play precise moves I could get rid of them.
700 rated players blunder unprovoked
The more moves in the game the more likely it is that they blunder. So stay concentrated, and don’t be afraid to play waiting moves or slightly improving moves rather than something more aggressive when low on time: even if you don’t see a way forward a blunder will likely happen.
What I recommend to get better when at this rating
Play solidly, only play fancy stuff when you’re sure it works: Keep your pieces defended, develop before attacking, and don’t be afraid to be a little passive. Put your pieces on good squares, for example, rooks or bishops facing the opponent’s queen, even if there are many pieces in between. When you want to play a tactic, a sacrifice, take a little time calculating, and only play it if you’re sure it works, or at least you’re sure you won’t end up in a worse position or down material.
It’s OK if you don’t attack because your opponent will eventually make a mistake.
Learn practical endgame basics, and practice endgames: At this level, endgame play is so bad that you will be able to win consistently with minimal practice. Not only will practicing endgames help you win games that already get to an endgame, but you’ll also be more confident simplifying and winning games that currently end in the middle game.
What to practice: king + several pawns vs king, using your rook to help pawns promote, basic ideas of rook endgames (get your rook in the opponent’s camp, get your rooks on the 7th rank…), how to get passed pawns. You don’t need to learn things such as Philidor/Lucena or theoretical endgames yet, just simple ideas so you make progress rather than playing random/ineffective moves.
Keep your threats in mind and check for your opponent’s mistakes: you might have a check, see a pawn that is only defended by a piece, your rook on the same column as the opponent’s queen. Don’t do anything yet (unless you see a working tactic!), but play solidly, and your opponent will eventually make a mistake, or a tactic will appear (he will move the defender, or you’ll end up able to fork rather than just check…)
Don’t do one-move threats: Don’t waste time with these. Just get your piece to a better spot. For example, when your rook is attacked by a bishop, don’t move it to attack the bishop back. Move it to a good square. Not only you will get it to a better spot, but also you won’t risk blundering by moving the piece multiple times without thinking much.
Don’t panic: When low on time, play safe moves that don’t require too much thinking. When down material keep calculating and playing solidly. Many times you’ll be able to get back on your feet. And don’t forget your opponent will likely play worse in these situations: when you’re down on time he might play quickly to flag you, when you’re down on material he might think he has already won and concentrate less.
