Hi Evan,
The deal with ratings, with Shredder, with USCF, with pretty much any rating
system that I’m aware of, the first factor is, how many games is the rating
based on. Shredder is not rating your particular game specifically on how well
or badly you played. Shredder is calculating the rating based on what
Shredder’s rating was for that particular game and whether you won or lost or
drew. Since you won, your rating would go up, the number of points based mostly
on the difference between the rating you had for that game and the rating
Shredder had for that game.
In the USCF, for example, and I believe it is also true WRT the FIDE ELO, you
receive what is called a provisional rating through your first 20 or 25 games.
I forget exactly how many games they use before they establish what they
consider to be your “actual” rating.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that when you win, Shredder increases your rating, he
also increases his rating. When you lose or draw, she adjusts your rating and
her rating. Shredder is aiming to get its rating and your rating relatively
close to each other. When that happens, that would be perhaps at least a fairly
reasonable estimate as to the playing strength you are showing most
consistently. As we all know, anyone who has he audacity to push chess pieces
around on a chessboard has the potential to play a very pretty game, as well as
the potential to play a game best consigned to the trash heap. It’s just as
true in chess as it is in any other competition. I once observed Pete Webber,
Dick Webber’s son, bowl a 140 on national tv! Even I could sometimes beat that
score, although not every time. (Grin)
Anyway, the best use of a rating score is to watch it over a period of time. If
you see it at least gradually moving upwards, that’s a good sign. If you see it
holding steady or dropping, that’s the signal that there is something
compromising your game. My rating seems to hover around 1600, plus or minus a
bit. Once in a while I’ll have a good run and it will get up over 1700, then
right back down again. I know the problem, I need to study more. But my wife,
the garden, various other projects, well,you know. There’s only 41 hours in a
day; what’s a dog to do?
HTH,
Jim T
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Evan Reese
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 9:38 AM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Is a Rating from Shredder Any Good?
Hey Guys,
I just beat Shredder the other day, and after it resigned it told me that I now
have an ELO rating of 1600.
I know ratings aren’t the be all and end all. Still, they must have some value
or they wouldn’t be used. So I’m wondering, how useful are ratings from
Shredder? Is this close to accurate?
Thanks for any thoughts.
Evan