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What Is a Good Chess Rating?
A "good" chess rating is relative to your experience level. While a beginner might aim for 800-1000, a club player often strives for 1500-1800. This article breaks down the Elo rating system, explaining what different rating ranges represent in terms of skill and what realistic goals you should set for your progress.
The Rating Ladder
Note: These are general estimates for online chess sites. FIDE (real life) ratings are usually harder to get.
| Rating (Elo) | Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 800 | Beginner | Learning how pieces move. Often hangs pieces (blunders). |
| 800 – 1200 | Novice | Knows basic openings and tactics. Stops giving pieces away for free. |
| 1200 – 1600 | Intermediate | Solid club player. Understands strategy and basic endgames. |
| 1600 – 2000 | Advanced | Strong club player. Rarely makes tactical mistakes. |
| 2000 – 2200 | Expert / CM | Top 1% of players. Very deep theoretical knowledge. |
| 2500+ | Grandmaster | Professional players. The best in the world. |
Online vs. Real Life (FIDE)
Do not be confused if your rating is different on different websites!
- Lichess: Ratings tend to be higher (inflated). A 1500 here might be a 1200 elsewhere.
- Chess.com: Ratings tend to be lower initially. A 1000 here is a decent score.
- FIDE (Official): The hardest to earn. You only get this by playing in-person tournaments.
What is the Average?
On major chess websites, the global average is usually around 600 to 800. If you reach 1000, you are already better than 50% of the people on the site! If you reach 1500, you are often in the top 5–10%.
🎯 Beginner Chess Guide
This page is part of the Beginner Chess Guide — A structured step-by-step learning path for new players covering chess rules, tactics, safe openings, and practical improvement.
📖 Beginner Chess Topics Directory
This page is part of the Beginner Chess Topics Directory — A structured index of beginner chess topics — rules, tactics, openings, common mistakes, and practical training resources.