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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) What rating is real? (Read 4892 times)
trw
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #13 - 02/25/09 at 04:09:10
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MNb wrote on 02/25/09 at 02:37:15:
The correct answer depends on the person who asks it. Ratings are relative by definition. So the answer is only meaningful when you know what kind of rating the asking person has. If he/she does not have a clue then it does not really matter what you answer, because he/she will not be able to interpret it anyway.



Yes.

Ratings when real (as rare is that is) is just statistics anyways.
  
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MNb
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #12 - 02/25/09 at 02:37:15
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The correct answer depends on the person who asks it. Ratings are relative by definition. So the answer is only meaningful when you know what kind of rating the asking person has. If he/she does not have a clue then it does not really matter what you answer, because he/she will not be able to interpret it anyway.
  
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drkodos
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #11 - 02/24/09 at 14:01:17
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Matemax wrote on 02/24/09 at 13:49:42:
Quote:
People ask me "do you have a rating, what is it?"

I still wonder why people ask you (or me, or anyone) this question.



Same reason they ask what line of work we are in:  So they can evaluate us.

I usually tell people I am a struggling 1300.  Seriously.  But on most of these sites the rating is right next to our names and it is getting harder and harder to keep up a good front.

I believe most people overrate themselves do so to feel better.  I find underrating is a lot more fun.  Although, I usually respond to rating question by asking what their favorite color is,  I am seriously in need of new material as my schtick is wearing thin on me these days.
  
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Smyslov_Fan
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #10 - 02/24/09 at 13:56:44
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Matemax wrote on 02/24/09 at 13:49:42:
Quote:
People ask me "do you have a rating, what is it?"

I still wonder why people ask you (or me, or anyone) this question.



I think I know why:  numbers are magical.  A person may understand nothing about tournament chess, but can understand that 1900 is bigger than 1800.  Many of the non-tournament playing chess friends that I have are impressed by the thought that I have a rating.  Fewer are impressed that it starts with a 2.

I can only guess why numbers are so magical that they have inspired cults such as cabalists and computer programmers, but there you have it.

For those who understand numbers a bit, I may give them my rating then explain how many standard deviations above the average tournament player that is.  To me, that's far more impressive than the rating itself.
  
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Matemax
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #9 - 02/24/09 at 13:49:42
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Quote:
People ask me "do you have a rating, what is it?"

I still wonder why people ask you (or me, or anyone) this question.
  
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #8 - 02/24/09 at 06:34:14
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Smyslov_Fan wrote on 02/24/09 at 05:13:22:
Averaging apples and oranges does not make for good juice.  Umm, I mean averaging ratings from disparate sources is not meaningful.

(Please don't be mean; excuse the bad puns.)

Why not give a range of ratings?  Say something like at my best, I've been rated between 1400 and 1600 (or 2400 and 2600, or whatever.)


This is an excellent idea. At my best, I've been rated between 1400 and 2600  Grin

Seriously though, as long as you qualify your rating, it probably doesn't matter too much what you use. i.e. I'm rated 2080 FIDE.
  
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Smyslov_Fan
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #7 - 02/24/09 at 05:13:22
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Averaging apples and oranges does not make for good juice.  Umm, I mean averaging ratings from disparate sources is not meaningful.

(Please don't be mean; excuse the bad puns.)

Why not give a range of ratings?  Say something like at my best, I've been rated between 1400 and 1600 (or 2400 and 2600, or whatever.)
  
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drkodos
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #6 - 02/23/09 at 18:43:34
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Yes.

If ratings mean something significant and are valid way to determine actual chess strength, performance, ability, (or whatever it is actually measuring!) I want to know mine and represent myself with as much accuarcy as possible in the highly competitive arena of rhetorical chess burble.
  
I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission.
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #5 - 02/23/09 at 18:38:27
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No it's not a matter of taste, there is some formula giving the appropriate weights, to expect future results with best accuracy.

For example tennis ATP ratings are said to be more accurate, FIDE's lag a bit much.
  
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #4 - 02/23/09 at 18:20:19
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Uruk wrote on 02/23/09 at 17:43:46:

I've heard there is a problem with FIDE ratings.

Some wrong coefficients put too much weight on ancient results.

A statistician might bother to clarify...

That's entirely a matter of perspective and opinion. It's all a trade-off between ridiculously jumping ratings due to single games being won or lost despite unchanged playing strength versus appropriately reflecting true changes in playing strength (=improved results). In the long run with enough games played it all doesn't matter a lot.
  
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #3 - 02/23/09 at 17:43:46
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I've heard there is a problem with FIDE ratings.

Some wrong coefficients put too much weight on ancient results.

A statistician might bother to clarify...
  
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #2 - 02/23/09 at 17:26:33
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kylemeister wrote on 02/23/09 at 16:45:25:
I would propose that, at least if you have played OTB in the fairly recent past, your realest rating would be your FIDE or USCF regular rating, depending on which is based on more/more recent games, and choosing FIDE in the event that there is deemed to be no significant difference in that respect by some reasonable mathematical standard.  There.



What do you think of using the average?   Wink

Actually, I am not playing otb except quick events and have been obsessively pursuing longer ICC games and ICCF play.

Do you feel honest play of 200+ long games on ICC rating is valid in comparison to the other?

I usually only focus on improvement and not ratings, but when asked and responded to I am getting tired of people firing back with:   

"You said you were X but on _____ you are only Y."

  
I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission.
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Re: What rating is real?
Reply #1 - 02/23/09 at 16:45:25
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I would propose that, at least if you have played OTB in the fairly recent past, your realest rating would be your FIDE or USCF regular rating, depending on which is based on more/more recent games, and choosing FIDE in the event that there is deemed to be no significant difference in that respect by some reasonable mathematical standard.  There.
  
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drkodos
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What rating is real?
02/23/09 at 14:47:18
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People ask me "do you have a rating, what is it?"

I say: Well, I am not really sure.  Which one do you think is real (est)?

FIDE 
USCF (they gave me 2 ratings--1 regular, 1 quick)
ICCF (they gave me 3 --regular, blitz, bullet)
Gameknot (2)
Chess.com (2)
Yahoo Chess
ICCF
etc.
So I have about 10 ratings. Which one is the real one?  Smiley  The highest?  The lowest?  Cry

What say you?  I usually go with the FIDE since it is international.  Do people think this is most accurate rating system we have?
  
I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission.
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