What does it take for a strong amature chess player to beat their first master rated around 2200?

In general,regardless of age,what does it take for a up and coming amature chess player,skill wise, to win their first game against a master rated 2200.Any thoughts and ideas would be helpful be specific and detailed.|||Hello;





I know an amateur player who beat a master (in a rated tournament game). I remember talking to him about it and the secret was that he was very patient and played a solid no frills game. Just good standard chess. Mind you he was a very good player, and he only did it once (that I know of).





Gens Una Sumas,





Bill|||It depends on what lines you're willing to cross. For me, I just play chess for the fun of it, and scores aren't really that important. However, I had a roommate that really liked to mess around with people that invest such high importance in rankings. So, he downloaded Chess Master, and played his opponents move against it. Freaking hillarious, a 1200 beating a 1600 (not sure if it would work for 2200, though).





If you want to train yourself in chess, make sure that you're aware of the basic strategies (i.e. discovery, pin, fork) and practice using those against your opponent, as well as defending against them.





Next, once you have these strategies down well (i.e. you should be about 1500 by then) then try playing blitz Chess. This will help you not only think ahead, but also think ahead quickly so you can quickly see your blunders and adapt.





Personally, I don't care about ratings, so you won't find me doing either of these. I just like playing the game.|||You may be able to give a Master a run for his money by the time you get a Class B rating (1600-1799). Speaking from personal experience, my first tournament win against a Master came after I was already an Expert (2000-2199).





If you're a young player on his way up the ladder--as opposed to an old guy who's been stuck in Class A or B for years--you may have a situation where your rating can't quite keep up with your actual playing strength. Career A and B players are pretty hopeless, but a kid who's 1700 going on 2400 is a force to be reckoned with.|||Luck.......





A Fide Master or National Master 2200-2300 with a real title (we are not talking about people with inflated ratings online right?) can easily beat 99% of amateurs he or she's a pro.|||My first thought when sitting behind the board against a higher ranked player, be they a master or higher, is this: they also use water to cook. I.e. it is a mindset you have to start off with first, psychologically. I mean they have the same to play with, but not as far as resources are concerned. They have seen thousands (or 10s of thousands) more positions than you have, are superior in pattern recognition etc. but that is not your concern. You play with what you know and try to convert it on board. They are doing the same. But starting out it will always be the same.





Skill-wise, for tournament games, I look my opponents up in a database and try to find games and grasp their playing style (not just the opening). You then prepare for what is most likely to come, and try to base your middle-game plan on that. A lot of people I know who played stronger opponents or titled players, try to go the unorthodox or unusual route, meaning playing something out of the ordinary pretty early on in the game. If so better make sure it is sound. It may work on top level (see the current world championship match Anand-Topalov, where Topalov's entire preparation team was surprised by Anand's choice of moves), but not on amateur level.





The second part of my routine, which actually precedes the mindset, is to study tactics for about an hour, then take half an hour or max an hour of rest before I actually start playing. This has helped me win against a FIDE Master, two draws against international masters, one draw against a grandmaster. I'm an Expert level and have only played 15 titled players or so in my entire chess life.





So, stay yourself - do not adjust your regular game thinking pattern or be impressed by your opponent in any kind of way. Yes, they are rated higher or even titled. So what?





Finally, whenever you do get the chance to play a master, whatever the outcome, always ask them to analyze the game with you afterward. Always. Not all will honor your request, but it is the best way to improve and do better next time, regardless of win or lose.