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FAQ List on CS Grading System
A detailed explanation of calculation procedures is included in the general introduction to the grading system. Information for area graders (the people who compile grading data) is available here. Information for players reporting results from outside Scotland is included here. How to look up your latest grade online grade.
How do I get a grade?If you play at least 8 gradeable games and score at least half a point you will get a grade of 100 or more. Grades are computed and fixed officially once a year when the new grading list is published in August. These published grades are based on games between July 1 to July 1 of the year preceding publication, so a grade published in the grading book in August 2006 was based on games played July 1 2005 to July 1 2006. Graded players should quote this published grade when entering tournaments.
New (fluctuating) grades are continually displayed throughout the year in the Online grading system (see below). Therefore you do not have to wait until August to see your new grade - but only until you have the minimum number of games and points when your new grade will appear immediately in the online display (assuming the games have been submitted for grading).
A "gradeable" game is one against a player who has a published rating in the most recent grading list or an ungraded player who has been awarded a temporary grade. Only games which are played in official tournaments or leagues in Scotland, club events, or recognised events outside Scotland and are submitted by the event organiser (or the individual for outside Scotland games) will count.
If you don't manage to get a grade in one season or don't manage to record the minimum 8 games then your results will be carried forward until a second season.
You can tell which ungraded opponents have been awarded a temporary grade by consulting your online record.
You need 8 games which count separately for the Main List or for the Allegro List ie so it is possible , but unlikely, that you could have 7 games for the Main List and 7 for the Allegro List and not be published in either.
What is a PNUM?
A PNUM is a player number. These numbers are unique to every player. You are allocated a PNUM the moment you play in a graded event. All grading is based on PNUMS. To make sure the correct results go to the correct player you should quote your PNUM when entering tournaments. These numbers are permanent. If you return to chess after a break you should still quote the old PNUM when your record will be re-activated.
Do I have to be a Chess Scotland member to get a grade?
No. Membership is not required to get graded. However membership confers additional grading benefits like the ability to see an itemised listing of every game you played.
I have a Main List grade but not an Allegro Grade - am I ungraded if I play an allegro event?
If you have a Main List grade already then that also counts as your first Allegro grade - so you are NOT considered as ungraded. The grading computer will use your published Main List grade for any allegro games you play if you don't have an Allegro grade already. If your Allegro grade lapses it is your most recent Main List grade will be used when you next play an Allegro game.
If you have an Allegro grade but not a Main List grade you are still considered as ungraded for the Main List. However you should still inform the event organizer of your allegro grade. It is up to the event organizer to decide if your published Allegro grade will determine eligibility to rating restricted sections or prizes but as far as grading calculations are concerned you will still be processed as ungraded.
How can I see if I have a new grade? How can I see my latest grade if I am already graded?
Members of Chess Scotland (CS) can look up their latest grade 24hrs a day by consulting the Online Grading page here. To become a member and get access to the Online Grading page you can join CS with the form at this page.
What does the Performance column mean on the tournament charts?
The performance figures in the tournament web reports are merely given for interest and do not affect your grading calculations. These performance figures are the grading that you would be allocated as if you were an ungraded player based only on these games in that event. NB: the performance figure does take into account 400 limits between your grade and those of your opponents and this will distort a true performance calculation.
Why does my latest grade keep changing even when I don't play any additional games?
If you play new or rapidly improving players you will be playing against an estimated grade rather than a fixed grade. The computer continually makes revised estimates for new and improving players when new data is received.
So for example you may have played against a new previously ungraded player who was initially estimated at 1200 - later in the season he is valued at 1300. Without playing any additional games your grade will have increased slightly to reflect the fact the computer now considers that player stronger than the initial estimate. Similarly the player may be revised downwards in which case your grade could move down slightly and so on. These changing estimates of opponent's grade can be viewed in your online record.
What do the "classes" refer to in the online records?
The online lookup page allocates grading Classes. These are simply a letter equivalent of a 200 point grading interval.
How do I know if an event has been processed for grading?
There is a continually updated list of every event processed at this Check List. The same information is displayed in a Tree List grouped into tournament types. If you played in an event which has not yet been processed for grading ask the organiser if it has been submitted.
How do I get a FIDE grade?
FIDE, the world chess federation, will allocate a player an international FIDE grade once the player has at least 9 results and a new grade at least as high as the minimum level at which FIDE grades are published. (This varies and is being progressively reduced to 1001 - for many years it was 2200, currently the level is 1401) Players do not need to get 9 games all in the one event - they can achieve "partial" grades which can be summed over several grading periods and which will result in a new grade once the minimum games and minimum grade requirements are satisfied.
The Scottish Championship, the SNCL and some weekend tournaments submit their data for FIDE grading. Events need to meet certain requirements before their data is eligible to be submitted. An event in Scotland asks the CS grader to submit the data. Details on FIDE rating requirements are available here.
If you are about to play outside Scotland in a FIDE rated event either as an individual or a member of a team and you are currently FIDE unrated it is worth contacting the CS Grader beforehand. The CS Grader can login to the FIDE database and generate a FIDE pnum. You can then give this pnum to the organiser which should mean the correct results go to the correct player. This procedure should avoid the many problems which can occur with player identities. Give your full name including any initials and date of birth and email grading@chessscotland.com
Please email grading@chessscotland.com if you think there are any other tips or clarifications worth highlighting - last updated Feb 18, 2008