Tactics For Playing Someone Rated Much Higher
Strategy
Mike Deubig Asked 9 years ago
Hi Coach and Jeff :)
I love your podcast and the answers that you have supplied for me have been awesome! Normally I would ask this in the podcast but since this needs a bit more of an explanation, I'll post it in here. I'm going to be entering three events in one of the biggest tournaments in the country. It's called, "The Badger Open."
Last year I played in three events, one of which was very unique, something you guys have most likely never heard before. It's a non-rated event called, "51 Point Handicap". Depending upon your rating, say one person is rated 1400 and the other is rated 1900, the lower rated player is awarded points to start out with. Let's say the 1400 is awarded 21 points. So the game starts out 21-0, with the lower rated player leading. The first person who reaches 51 wins the match. There are no sets, just one game up to 51. If there is a tie at 51, you must win by two. Players 2300 or more can enter the event for free.
When I played in last year, I made it all the way to the semi-finals with my 1500 rating, knocking off two players who were 2200 plus. One of the guys I beat, made to the Quarter-finals in the regular open event. I'm planning on playing again in this event and my question to is this...How do you prepare and develop some tactics for players who are rated much higher?
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago
Hi Mike,
We have seen a lot of these events. In fact Jeff used to organise one at the club and even set up a computer program to run it.
The handicap system is an interesting one and makes the game quite different.
I think when you are playing a higher ranked player and need less points, it is best to take a few risks. If you play a controlled game you will often find your opponent is better at controlling the ball and will be able to win each point. However, the thing that they fear the most is you hitting some winners. Since you don’t need to win as many points this makes it awkward for them.
Good luck at the Badger Open.
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Dakota Castleberg Posted 9 years ago
Hey Mike,
Noticed that you also live in Wisconsin (based off the tourney name I knew you were in the US, then looked you up on ratings)!
I don't want to fill up this question page but was just curious what club you play at? I play in Madison although I have been to the Milwaukee club. Good luck at the Badger Open, and I may see you there as after my tourney results from this last weekend get put online we will be close in rank.
D K Posted 9 years ago
Jeff can make programs???
Being a beginner of programming myself,I want to ask-could he show that program??
Hi D K,
That was way back in the 1990's when I wrote that program. I don't think any copies of it still exist :(
Mike Deubig Posted 9 years ago
Hi Dakota,
I have only been playing at the club for a little over a year now as I returned to playing table tennis. Before then, I played with the 30mm ball and the game was to 21...lol It's great to see a local on here :) I have played at the club in Madison once last year, it was the week of the Badger Open. I might do it again this year. Since I work second shift, I mainly play at West Allis on the weekends. Perhaps we were run into each other...:)
Gordon Hume Posted 9 years ago
I love handicap competitions, at least as a change from 11-point, best of five, fixtures! I ran a doubles handicap session for a year at our local leisure centre, playing up to 31 points, with the best players on -10 and the weakest on 26 or so. What astonished me was how, by the end of the year, all the weaker and intermediate players had improved so much! I think that's down to the feeling you have that, no matter how better your opponent(s) may be, you still have a good fighting chance of winning (and pulling them down a peg or two!), and that seems to bring out the very best in players and helps them to try just that little bit harder. The winner at the end of the year had started off with a handicap of just 24.
DK: I organise the weekly Juniors' night at our club and we're about to try a 31-point handicap singles competition. If the kids like the way it works, I'll be rewriting my original computer program to convert it from doubles to singles, so if you're interested I could either let you have a copy of it or offer some advice for making your own. I wrote it in Microsoft Access database form, and it has tons and tons of macros! LOL
Josef Novy Posted 9 years ago
Mike, I believe you are talking about 38 mm balls, not 30 mm, I never heard about 30 mm balls....