I realize that I am a provisionally rated player, but why did my rating go DOWN when I just won a game? He was provisionally rated 1200, if anyone can explain why I lost rating points...
EDIT: never mind...I just read the FAQ section...I feel better now but stupid for not seeing this earlier...🙁 sorry...
This question comes up now and then. One can find the answer in the FAQ as wittywonka already stated.
wittywonka has a provisional rating above 1500. Then he won a guy with 1200 of rating and his rating goes down.
An advice to new members who really want a high rating is to challenge high rated opponents and win the games. You don't just getting 32 points but hundreds of them.
And don't challenge low rated opponents for any cheap points. They actually lower your rating even if you win the games, as wittywonka discovered.
After the first 20 games it is very harder to raise you rating, before is easier.