What is an Elo rating?
An Elo chess rating is a numerical value assigned to a chess player. The system provides a standardized way to compare the chess strength of different players. The ratings measures the skill levels of players relative to one another. A larger rating difference indicates a higher likelihood of the higher-rated player winning. Ratings are adjusted after each game based on performance, with more points transferred for an unexpected outcome, such as a lower-rated player defeating a higher-rated one. Read more about it here.
My Elo rating is 800.
According to Chess.com, I have an Elo rating of 800. That number, according to HIARCS Chess Explorer seen below, places me securely in the complete beginner classification. I do know how I first reached 800. Maybe everyone starts at 800, I do not remember. However, given the outcomes of my play against Chess.com bots, I think I have earned it [LOL].
World Champion, 2800+ Elo
World Championship contender, 2700-2800 Elo
Super Grandmaster, 2600-2700 Elo
Grandmaster, 2500-2600 Elo
International Master, 2400-2500 Elo
Master, 2200-2400 Elo
Expert, 2000-2200 Elo
Class A – Strong club player, 1800-2000 Elo
Class B – Club team player,1600-1800 Elo
Class C – Club player, 1400-1600 Elo
Class D – Hobby player, 1200-1400 Elo
Class E – Beginner/Novice, 1000-1200 Elo
Class F – Complete beginner, 750-1000 Elo
You can find more interesting discussions about what the ratings mean elsewhere, for example, on Reddit.
What does ‘Elo’ stand for?
Elo is not an acrynym [an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. ASCII, NASA )] nor is it an initialism [a type of abbreviation where each letter is pronounced individually (O-M-G) rather than blended into a new word (i.e., an acronym)]. Rather, it is named after Arpad Elo (1903-1992), a physics professor and chess master who developed the system.
Read more about Arap Elo here.