ELO Ratings

Overview

Every player on Solwagers has an ELO rating. You start at 1200 and your rating changes after each completed game based on the result and your opponent's rating.

The system uses standard chess ELO math — if you beat someone rated higher than you, you gain more points than if you beat someone rated lower. Lose to someone rated lower and you'll drop more. Over time, ratings converge to reflect actual skill.

How It Works

After every game, the system calculates an expected score for each player based on the rating difference. Your rating change is then based on how your actual result compares to that expectation:

• •Win against a higher-rated opponent — large rating gain
• •Win against a lower-rated opponent — small rating gain
• •Lose to a higher-rated opponent — small rating loss
• •Lose to a lower-rated opponent — large rating loss
• •Draw — both players shift slightly toward each other

K-Factor

The K-factor controls how much your rating can change from a single game. New players have a higher K-factor so their rating adjusts quickly to their true skill level.

Examples

Rating Floor

Ratings cannot drop below 100. This prevents ratings from going negative after a long losing streak.

Your current rating is displayed on your Portfolio page and in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.