Tempo Rubato

[NetherMagic]

I'm pretty sure everyone here knows Chopin's famous for developing the Tempo Rubato, generally used for pieces originating in the Romantic era.  I just want to ask all of you when you play Chopin, how do you display efficient use of your rubato?  And how often do you use rubato, and to a big degree or just as minor touch-ups here and there?  And for those of you with some association with competition judges and the like, do you know how people would regard one's usage of rubato as good or bad?  And do you often mess around with the accompaniment as well, or do you stick to the traditional Chopin's way of applying rubato only mainly to the melody hand?

And please list some examples of areas you would use rubato, either slower or faster, in different pieces

I tend to use rubato for both hands no matter if it's playing the melody or not, and I often tend to slow down a little before an accented note and at the start of a fast phrase
For example, in Fantaisie-Impromptu, when the RH melody starts (I'm thinking everyone knows what I'm talking about), I slow down a lot just for the first few notes and then quickly get back to speed and go beyond the speed just a little to raise the momentum and then slow down back to normal speed right before the pinky melody

[eddie92099]

Here is a way I picture rubato: A tree, swaying in the wind. The flexible branches being the melody, but the trunk (i.e. the rhythmic centre) remaining rooted to the ground,
Ed

[NetherMagic]

ooh nice that is one excellent explanation!!!! Never thought of that!!! Thanks!