Elo ratings
Chess players are given a chess rating to gauge how strong they are at chess. The standard rating system used in chess is called Elo ratings named after Arpad Elo. A related system is used in tennis, football and many other sports.
Elo ratings are based on the results of games and ratings of opponents played. The Elo rating system ranges from 1000 Elo (a complete novice) to 2800 Elo and beyond for the strongest players of all time.
Were a player A to score two points for every one point of player B, then player A would be expected from this performance to have an Elo rating about 120 Elo points more than player B. As you can see there is a great difference in chess strength as you go up the ratings.
The ratings can be split into the following broad classes:
Class of Player |
Rating Range |
World Champion |
2800+ Elo |
World Championship contender |
2700-2800 Elo |
Super Grandmaster |
2600-2700 Elo |
Grandmaster |
2500-2600 Elo |
International Master |
2400-2500 Elo |
Master |
2200-2400 Elo |
Expert |
2000-2200 Elo |
Class A - Strong club player |
1800-2000 Elo |
Class B - Club team player |
1600-1800 Elo |
Class C - Club player |
1400-1600 Elo |
Class D - Hobby player |
1200-1400 Elo |
Class E - Beginner/Novice |
1000-1200 Elo |
Class F - Complete beginner |
750-1000 Elo |
HIARCS Chess Explorer Pro allows you to set any of these strengths in the play game dialog.