undefined | Better HN

0 pointsk_sze5y ago0 comments

So what does that say about the relative strengths of the players between chess.com and lichess.com? That chess.com has the more elite players from lichess.com and so the lichess.com players are weaker on average than the chess.com players?

0 comments

3 comments · 3 top-level

archseer5y ago

This is a common misconception and the ratings are not comparable across player pools. lichess starts you off at 1500 and so the center of the bell curve is 1500, chess.com starts you off at 1200, so that's where it balances the 50% at.

https://lichess.org/stat/rating/distribution/blitz

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/faq#wiki_my_chess.com_ra...

Scarblac5y ago

You can't say that based on the ratings. The parameters of the Elo system can be freely chosen, so you can't compare two implementations at all.

lightbulbjim5y ago

Maybe, but it doesn't really matter in practice. If you play against opponents with a similar rating to you then you'll be evenly matched.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse