![]() This is the first main plateau level that a player achieves where he generally sees very basic threats and doesn’t blunder away pieces on a frequent basis. Most adults quickly reach the 1000 level. ![]() A plateau (small or large), then a vertical jump to the next plateau. Normally players move up the rating scale in a stair step fashion. Many players falsely expect a linear move up the rating scale through the alphabet levels to expert, master, and beyond. With proper study, anyone can improve their chess game. As with any subject, the more you know about chess, the more you will realize you don’t know. In this case there are normally several commonalities – too much opening study (sometimes spending time learning traps and garbage openings, which is mainly memorization… chess is not a finite problem that can be memorized), study of game collections of famous player where the concepts are too complex, or too stubborn/unteachable/unreceptive to new ideas or constructive criticism. I have met many low rated players who have read tons of books and can seemingly recite every game ever played, but somehow have trouble applying chess concepts to their own game. This could be 1200, 1600, 2000, or anywhere else, depending on many factors (brain speed, calculating ability, study time and efficiency, ability to solve mathematical and logical problems, board game sense, concentration, competitiveness, intelligence, etc.) There are very high rated players who have spent many hundreds of less hours of study time than their much lower rated counterparts. Every adult who has been playing chess for years will eventually reach his average rating plateau strength. AdultsĪdult rating increases are a separate topic than a child’s (discussed later). To understand how a player progresses through the ranks and develop realistic expectations, the linear rating scale must be overlapped over the normal rating distribution bell curve. (This should be obvious since it is much easier for a 1000 rated player to reach 1700 than a 2100 to improve to 2800 …a world champion contender!!?). Overlaying the linear rating scale with the bell curve distribution of players, it is easy to see that the lower rated player has a much easier time improving his rating than a higher rated player. In other words, a 1200 rated player has the same odds of beating a 1400 as a 1800 rated player has beating a 2000. Theoretically and mathematically, a player 200 points higher rated than his opponent is expected to win 3 out of 4 games. Statistically, 5% of rated players reach the Expert (2000) level, and 1% achieve the Master (2200) level. Approximately 70% of rated tournament adult players fall between 1200-1900. ![]() The rating distribution of tournament players tends to fall into a normal bell curve distribution about the 1550 mean. For discussion purposes, let’s say it is 1550. The mean rating for adults is somewhere in the 1500’s. USCF Standard over-the-board rating scale A good speed chess player will typically have a higher quick rating than his standard rating, and visa-versa for slower players. ![]() The tournament player’s USCF Quick Chess rating (G/29 or faster) will usually fall in the same range as his standard over-the-board rating. There are higher levels of Master (SM, IM, and GM), but since less than 1% of all tournament players fall into this range, I will not focus on them here. (Of course, this is based on my subjective opinion as a player and teacher and the players that I polled from various rating levels.)Ī rating is a numerical representation of a player’s approximate playing strength…mathematically based on the last twenty or so rated games played, weighted more heavily toward the most recent results. I will attempt to lay out the USCF over-the-board rating system and set out realistic expectations as a player (hopefully!) moves up the rating scale. ![]()
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