Elo calculator

The calculator uses the same formula as chessmail. It is preset with the values that actually apply here. You can change the K-factor and the D-value to see how other rating systems calculate.

chessmail uses 20, and 60 for new members.
chessmail uses 400, like FIDE Elo and DWZ.

Expected score

 

The share of points you win on average against this opponent.

Result Diff. New
Win
Draw
Loss

Rating change depending on the rating of the opponent

Hover over the graph to read the values. A click adopts the rating of the opponent.

Win Draw Loss

How it is calculated

The rating difference gives the expected score, the share of points a player wins on average against this opponent. The rating change is the difference between the actual result and that expected score, multiplied by the K-factor.

The K-factor decides how much a single game counts. A high K-factor lets the rating react quickly to new results, a low one smooths it out. New members therefore play with a higher K-factor, so they reach their real playing strength quickly.

The D-value defines which rating difference counts as a clear gap in class. With a D-value of 400, a player who is 400 points ahead wins about ten out of eleven games in theory. A smaller D-value makes the curves in the graph steeper, so the favourite counts as clearly superior even with a small lead.

chessmail rounds to whole points, exactly like this calculator. Only games that are played as rated games count.