Some questions about chess ratings.
First, what are the different rating systems that are out there? I think I've heard there is ELO (don't know what it stands for) and one other one?
Does RHP and Yahoo adhere to the same scoring criteria?
Last, is there a set chess rating window to be labeled Expert, Master, IM, and GM?
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Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperThe Elo rating system was invented by Arpad Elo, a Hungarian born chess master. It is used for other games as well such as Go. The rating system is used by all chess sites in some variation or other, but these do not always correlate well.
Some questions about chess ratings.
First, what are the different rating systems that are out there? I think I've heard there is ELO (don't know what it stands for) and one other one?
Does RHP and Yahoo adhere to the same scoring criteria?
Last, is there a set chess rating window to be labeled Expert, Master, IM, and GM?
The United States Chess Federation (USCF) uses its own classification of players:
2400 and above: Senior Master
2200–2399: Master
2000–2199: Expert
1800–1999: Class A
1600–1799: Class B
1400–1599: Class C
1200–1399: Class D
1000–1199: Class E
In general, 1000 is considered a bright beginner. In 2007, the median rating of all USCF members was 657, according to http://www.evanstonchess.org/Histogram2007.html. Class B and higher is generally considered extremely competitive and the USCF establishes a rating floor. A floor is your current rating minus 200 rating points. For instance, once someone has reached a rating of 1600, they can never fall below 1400 for rating and competition purposes. (To protect the integrity of big tournaments and combat sandbagging). FIDE ratings are usually 100 points below the above. Highest ever rated player is Kasparov at 2852 then Topalov 2813.
Ingo system, designed by Anton Hoesslinger, used in Germany 1948-1992 (Harkness 1967:205-6).
Harkness System, invented by Kenneth Harkness, who published it in 1956 (Harkness 1967:185-88).
British Chess Federation Rating System, published in 1958.
Correspondence Chess League of America Rating System (now uses Elo).
Glicko rating system
Chessmetrics
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperYou are very welcome!
Thank you, scacchipazzo. Very informative!
657 was the median? That seems extremely low to me, unless there is a whole bunch of young children who are members.
Also, how accurate would my RHP rating be as compared to what my FIDE rating would end up being?
It's hard to say. The problem lies in how you get to any given rating. Also, OTB is far different as you well know. Without time pressure in the equation there is no telling how this would correlate. I am like you. In OTB I'm a nervous wreck, yet I have beaten 1800 rated players. There are times when being face to face is great. Making an opponent squirm is absent from correspondence chess. I have looked at your games and I would say there is every likelihood you would rate 1300+ FIDE for now, but I see you gaining experience quickly.
Time pressure is an interesting factor. I lost a blitz game where I had overwhelming material advantage on one wrong move which caused me to run out of time. opponent was higher rated and tournament experienced so he knew how to manage the game to make me run out of time.