Chess rating — how Elo works

A rating is a number for your strength. It changes after every online game: better than expected and it rises, worse and it falls. A win over an equal gives +20 (in the first 20 games); 1200 beating 1400 gives +30.

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Chess — GameUZB

Elo in brief

  • Everyone starts at 1200.
  • The expected score depends on the gap: 200 points lower means roughly a 24 % chance to win.
  • Change = K × (score − expected). K = 40 for the first 20 games (the rating settles fast), then K = 20.
  • Win = 1, draw = 0.5, loss = 0. Resigning counts as a loss.

Examples (first 20 games, K = 40)

YouOpponentWinDrawLoss
12001200+200−20
12001400+30+10−10
14001200+10−10−30
15001500 (20+ games)+100−10

After 20 games the numbers halve: ±10 against an equal.

Which games are rated

  • ⚡ Quick game and 👥 room code: yes, all time controls in one shared rating.
  • 🤖 Computer and 👫 one device: no, that is practice.
  • If the opponent is disconnected for 45 seconds, you get the win and the points.

Leaderboard and levels

The lobby shows the top 30: rating, games, W/L/D. The rating is tied to your browser: no registration, but another device gets a new profile.

Rough levels: 1200 beginner, 1400 amateur, 1600 club level, 1800+ strong amateur. This is GameUZB’s internal rating, not a FIDE rating.

FAQ

Why does beating a stronger player give more points?

Elo rewards unexpected results: beating someone 200 points higher has a 24 % chance, hence +30, while losing costs only −10.

Can I reset my rating?

Clearing the site data in your browser starts a new profile at 1200; the old one stays on the board.

Is this equal to a FIDE rating?

No. The formula is the same but the pool is different; the GameUZB rating compares players on this site only.

See also

▶ Play online