New player beginning rating

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ACCL28
When I first started playing on chess.com, my rating was 800. However, my friend started at 1000 and I've also seen another player on the boards with starting rating of 1600! How do the starting ratings work?!
Xanitrep

They're assigned based on how you answer the question about your level of chess experience during account creation. Right now I think that the starting ratings are: "new to chess" = 400, "beginner" = 800, "intermediate" = 1200, "advanced" = 1600, and "expert" = 2000.

The specific numbers might have changed over time, as I seem to recall being assigned a starting rating of 1000 when I chose "beginner" back in April 2020, but you get the idea. Also, I hear that this system wasn't always in place and that, at some point in the past before I joined, everyone used to be assigned a starting rating of 1200. 

setiasianturi

I see now.

jekinco

however it will slowly adjust to your actual rate.

Martin_Stahl
jekinco wrote:

however it will slowly adjust to your actual rate.

 

With Glicko, it will be pretty quick.

justbefair

They dropped the availability of the 2000 rating for new players several months ago.

Xanitrep

Hmm. I still see the expert option when viewing the sign up page in incognito mode on my desktop browser.

Martin_Stahl
Xanitrep wrote:

Hmm. I still see the expert option when viewing the sign up page in incognito mode on my desktop browser.

 

 

I think the option posted by @justbefair is for guest play only.

SussyLarry
Xanitrep wrote:

They're assigned based on how you answer the question about your level of chess experience during account creation. Right now I think that the starting ratings are: "new to chess" = 400, "beginner" = 800, "intermediate" = 1200, "advanced" = 1600, and "expert" = 2000.

The specific numbers might have changed over time, as I seem to recall being assigned a starting rating of 1000 when I chose "beginner" back in April 2020, but you get the idea. Also, I hear that this system wasn't always in place and that, at some point in the past before I joined, everyone used to be assigned a starting rating of 1200.

idon't see the expert when sign up chess.com

tbirdfreeman

Thank you, this is very helpful and encouraging to people that are new to chess! 😉👍

LukasBorjesson
Tja
putshort
It would be better if they actually tell people that the question means the starting rating. Beginner (400) bc I was like, I’m about 1800, compared to Magnus I’m a beginner. And now I’m stuck! Haha
ChimichuriCat
I'm literally below 400, AND I DIDN'T EVEN SELECT THE NEW TO CHESS
Martin_Stahl
putshort wrote:
It would be better if they actually tell people that the question means the starting rating. Beginner (400) bc I was like, I’m about 1800, compared to Magnus I’m a beginner. And now I’m stuck! Haha

Even if you start at 400, if you're an 1800 strength, the Glicko rating system will quickly get you to an appropriate rating for any given pool

putshort
#14 - not in daily though. I joined a bunch of tournaments and got paired to low rated players that I need to play twice. Even with a 80% win rate and 4% draws it’s a long row to hoe. I guess I need to stop joining tournaments to help activate the Glicko mechanism.