Chess 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.

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
Class E - Beginner/Novice	1000-1200 Elo
Class D - Hobby player	1200-1400 Elo
Class C - Club player	1400-1600 Elo
Class B - Club team player	1600-1800 Elo
Class A - Strong club player	1800-2000 Elo
Expert	2000-2200 Elo
Master	2200-2400 Elo
International Master	2400-2500 Elo
Grandmaster	2500-2600 Elo
Super Grandmaster	2600-2700 Elo
World Champion contender	2700-2800 Elo
World Champion	2800+ Elo

Hiarcs uses Elo ratings in a number of ways:

Hiarcs computes the maximum strength it expects to achieve on your device. This can be seen in the Engine Room in the Maximum Strength cell.
Set Elo - Hiarcs will allow you to select its strength based on an Elo rating you can set between 1000 Elo and its expected maximum (probably Super Grandmaster!).
Your rating - as you play games against Hiarcs it will keep track of your rating progress and display it in the Engine Room, Your Rating cell entry. Hiarcs assumes your rating is initially at 1600 Elo but will continually adjust this to reflect the most up to date rating you have.
Adapt Strength - allows you to set an opponent which adapts its Elo strength to yours so you can always get a challenging but beatable opponent.