Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Understanding distributions of chess performances

  • University of Reading

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper studies the population of chess players and the distribution of their performances measured by Elo ratings and by computer analysis of moves. Evidence that ratings have remained stable since the inception of the Elo system in the 1970's is given in three forms: (1) by showing that the population of strong players fits a straightforward logistic-curve model without inflation, (2) by plotting players' average error against the FIDE category of tournaments over time, and (3) by skill parameters from a model that employs computer analysis keeping a nearly constant relation to Elo rating across that time. The distribution of the model's Intrinsic Performance Ratings can therefore be used to compare populations that have limited interaction, such as between players in a national chess federation and FIDE, and ascertain relative drift in their respective rating systems.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Computer Games - 13th International Conference, ACG 2011, Revised Selected Papers
Pages230-243
Number of pages14
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Event13th International Conference on Advances in Computer Games, ACG 2011 - Tilburg, Netherlands
Duration: Nov 20 2011Nov 22 2011

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume7168 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference13th International Conference on Advances in Computer Games, ACG 2011
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityTilburg
Period11/20/1111/22/11

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Understanding distributions of chess performances'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this