Points

Ok, I am a little frustrated here. I do not understand how points are given at the end of a game (+/-). Lately it seems when I win a game I get about 4 to 6 points on an average. When I loose, I am docked 10 to 11 on an average. This does not seem to me to be an equal system, albeit I do not understand the reasons behind it.

I have lost a couple of games, in which my opponent played (honestly) as well as I did, and still came off with 10 points. When I win a game, well played or not, I get my average 4 – 6 points. This is the same if I am playing someone who has considerable points less than I do, or as much. Even when I have been able to win a game with someone higher ranked than I, I still get my whopping 6 points. What gives here, can someone make me understand this system? I was being awarded more; it appears to have dropped on me. Is there something I have done?

checked your games and you got +15 in one game and they were not as high as you, so it depends on how many games you've played and what your ranking is at the time, eventually it will even out a bit I think. One of your opponents went up 200+ after beating you. You have only played a handful of games, so it will even out and will probably be more in line.

Yeah, I noticed that. Sometimes they go way up, or down. I remember the game you spoke of when I was awarded 15. I think I sacraficed my queen to grab the position I needed to checkmate him. I thought that was why I was awarded more. It would be cool if the system awarded you points based on your game. But on the reverse side of that, there were a few times I would most certainly go down 200 points! ha ha.

Thanks for the reply...Does anyone else have some thought or insight on this subject?

my understanding is that when you are fresh the points are huge, but eventually come down, +-5-10. Then also i have noticed if i play below my rating, i get less for a win and more for a lose like +4, -10, so i assume it is also relative to your rating vs. your opponent. but i could be wrong

Actually the way you play has nothing to do with how many points you get, a win is a win and a loss is a loss.

You should probably do a search of the forum archives (the small box in the upper right hand corner that says "search the forums") for "glicko rd".  Lots of previous threads on the same subject explaining just how the rating system works.

Thanks....Glicko Rd...Thanks

 this is one of the worst responses i have seen- not only wrong, but argumentative and lacks understanding of the point of the OP- thanks for sharing, and keep trying

The OP said when he won a game, well played or not...I was just telling him that the amount of points he receives has nothing to do with how well he played. I understand the question.

 you can see how many points you gain or lose by clicking the "details" in box to right of board and then click "show ratings adjustment". Unless you're playing unrated game, it will show what the points are.

 i dont see the detail button, is it in the chat box ?

I think the details box shows the points for the details of the game, in that it is accounting for your pieces. The formula to calculate the acual score awarded is a complicated mathimatical calcualtion based on the Glicko Rd reference that was refered to this thread. Still dont understand it, but I see there is a system anyway. I think it takes into account that information along with everything else. 

Win or Loose, no, actually it does matter how well you play, and it matters based on your level of experiance, and a estimate on what you should be able to do. All very complicated. Not like a good ol Rodeo...points awarded by a couple of judges based on how well you did, and how well your bull did. Thanks for the replys....those references given helped a lot

Glicko Rd, sounds like someplace I am going....would never have guessed to look that one up...so thanks to who posted that reference

You're right Roamingbull, it is complicated.  Best explanation I've read (somewhere on this site-forgive me for not crediting the author) explained ratings this way.  Yes, there does exist an exact rating number for every chess player on the planet.  And no, we will never know that exact number so we use statistics to "guesstimate" it.  One more reason not to worry about your rating and just enjoy the game.

This is true.

That said, for those who really want to know, the ratings are changed using some very complicated math, (see here for it, warning, VERY technical http://www.glicko.net/glicko/glicko.pdf ). But basically it amounts to, the more you've played recently, the less your rating moves for each game. In addition, if you beat someone lower rated than you, you gain fewer points. If you beat someone higher rated than you, you gain more points.

How you play in-game, or how many pieces you capture or any of that type of stuff has NO effect on your rating. 

 It is next to the chat button, along with moves and notes button.

... (point point point)

Okay, here is how the rating system works in a nut shell.

first it makes several assumptions

A) if you win a game, you must have played "better" than your opponent did, at least in that game.

B) if you lose a game, you must have played "worst" than your opponent did in that game

C) (for the purpose of fairness) it is assumed that someone who has not played a ranked game before will start with the average ranking (or 1200).

under those three assumptions, it is easy to see how the system basically works. regardless of how well you play (the reason you win or lose), if you win, your rating will go up, if you lose your rating will go down. if you draw, it depends.

when you first start, your rating adjustments when you when or lose will be huge. this is meant to quickly move your rating to match your general level of skill. as you play more games your rating begins to change more slowly.

adversly, if you play against someone who hasn't played a game yet while you have been playing for a while, your rating change will be smaller, since the rating of that person can not be assumed as an accurate measure of skill yet. but if they have played a lot of games, it will have a larger effect on your rating.

for the rest of this post, lets assume you and your opponent have both played an equal number of games, and that the number of games is you have both played is above 20 (the point where the rating starts to be considered accurate).

if your opponent has an equal rating, a win will let you gain just as much as a loss will cause you to lose. and in this case, a draw causes no change.

if your opponents rating is higher, a win will give you a larger increase to rating, a loss will cause you to lose less points, and in the case of a draw, you'll probably gain a couple points (but not as many as a win).

if your opponents rating is lower, a will still gain you points, but not as many. a loss will cause a much greater decrease in points than in the other situations. and in the case of a draw, you will probably lose a couple points (but not as many as if you lost).

that is how the rating system works.