Chess Ratings Explained: What Is a Good Chess Rating?
How chess ratings work (the Elo system), what the numbers mean for beginners, club players and grandmasters, and what a good rating is for your level.
A chess rating is a number that measures your playing strength. It goes up when you win and down when you lose, and it lets you play opponents of your level.
How the Elo system works
The Elo system, invented by physicist Arpad Elo, compares your rating with your opponent's:
- Beat someone rated higher than you: you gain many points.
- Beat someone rated lower: you gain only a few.
- Lose to a lower-rated player: you lose many points.
A 200-point gap means the stronger player is expected to score about 75%.
What the numbers mean
- Under 800: you're learning how the pieces move and the basic rules.
- 800–1200: you know the rules and play full games, but still leave pieces hanging.
- 1200–1600: you see simple tactics and know opening principles. This is a solid club level.
- 1600–2000: strong club player with good tactics and a sense of strategy.
- 2000–2200: expert level: you'd win most games at a local club.
- 2200+: master level, where official titles begin.
Chess titles
FIDE, the world chess federation, awards titles based on rating and results: Candidate Master (CM) around 2200, FIDE Master (FM) 2300, International Master (IM) 2400 and Grandmaster (GM) 2500. Only about 2,000 players in the world are grandmasters.
Online ratings vs. official ratings
Ratings on different websites aren't the same scale. Online ratings are often higher than official FIDE ratings, and ratings for fast games differ from slow ones. Compare yourself only within the same site and time control.
So what is a good rating?
A good rating is one that is higher than last month's. Beginners often gain 300 to 500 points in their first year simply by solving puzzles every day and reviewing their games.
Start rated puzzles at your level
FAQ
What is the average chess rating?
Most casual online players are rated between 800 and 1400. The average FIDE-rated tournament player is around 1600 to 1700.
What rating is a grandmaster?
A grandmaster must reach a FIDE rating of 2500 at some point and earn several strong tournament results called norms.
How fast can I raise my rating?
Solving puzzles daily and reviewing every loss can add 100 points a month for beginners. Progress slows as you get stronger.