What is Undefeated?

Play a whole rated tournament and lose no game, and you are undefeated. In a rated tournament, every result changes your rating, the number that shows how strongly you play. The rating can come from FIDE, the world chess federation, or from your own country's federation.

Why it is so hard

• Win, and you face another winner in the next round, so the last rounds are the toughest.
• Every game has a clock, and running out of time can end your run as fast as checkmate.

Nobody plays a perfect game, but undefeated players make safe moves and check every threat.

Draws keep the run, wins take the trophy

When you are behind, play for a draw: keep your king safe and keep your pieces. A draw against a stronger player still lifts your rating. When you are ahead, go for the win. If you draw every game, you stay undefeated, but you end far from the top. Unbeaten Game Night, at Star, is the same idea for one evening of games.

Where to try it

Any officially rated tournament counts, at any speed: classical, rapid or blitz. Classical games are slow, rapid games are fast, and blitz games are very fast. The Rated Event sticker shows you how to find one. Pick an event where the players are about your level. For a first try, a small rated youth event is a good start.

How you get the sticker

Your grown-up or coach checks it and hands you the sticker. Show the final results list, with every round and no loss. Or show your results on the rating site, where each game is listed. If you have no club, your grown-up at home reads the list with you. Did you do it before you had the passport? It still counts. Old results lists stay online, so you can still find yours.