1200+ Rating?

You have an established rapid or blitz rating of 1200 on Chess.com or 1550 on Lichess, after at least 20 rated games.

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You have an established rapid or blitz rating of 1200 on Chess.com or 1550 on Lichess, after at least 20 rated games.

What is rating?

A rating is your number, and it shows how well you play right now. When you win, it goes up, and when you lose, it goes down. If you beat a player rated 200 above you, you gain extra points. You get them because that player was expected to win three games out of four. Rapid games are fast and blitz games are even faster, and each has its own rating. At 1200, you play well against players you have never met, game after game. On Chess.com the goal is 1200, while on Lichess the goal is 1550. That is because the two sites use different numbers.

 

Why 20 rated games?

Every new account starts with a guess, and each site guesses in its own way:

  • Lichess gives everyone 1500 with a question mark after it, which means the site is not sure yet.
  • On Chess.com, you pick your own start: 400, 800, 1200 or 1600.
  • Only rated games change your number, so games against the site's computer do not change it.

After 20 rated games, your number settles down and is really yours.

 

Where you play

You play on your own account, which you make together with a grown-up. The Online Player sticker shows how to make one. Only Chess.com and Lichess count here, so a ChessKid rating does not count for this sticker. Play at home, at school or at the club. Any place with a screen and a grown-up who says yes will work.

 

A coach's tips for the climb

These four habits help your number climb:

  • Play a little and often, with a few games on most days.
  • Warm up with three puzzles before you play.
  • Take your time in rapid games, because there is more time to check each move.
  • Look at your number once a week, not after each game.

A bad week is normal, so keep playing your games.

 

How you get the sticker

Your grown-up or coach checks it and hands you the sticker. Sign in and show them your profile page, which must show 1200 on Chess.com or 1550 on Lichess. On Lichess, the question mark must be gone. On Chess.com, your games in that speed must show 20 or more. If you have no club yet, your grown-up at home looks at the screen with you. Did you get there before you had the passport? It still counts. If your number has dropped below the goal since then, the sticker stays yours.