What is Fide Rating?
A FIDE rating is a number that ranks chess players based on their performance in rated tournaments. It is calculated by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) using the Elo rating system. The higher a player’s rating, the stronger they are considered to be.
The average FIDE rating is around 1500, with 2800 being the highest possible rating. Players with a rating of 2000 or higher are considered to be strong players, while players with a rating of 2500 or higher are considered to be elite players.
FIDE ratings are updated regularly after each tournament to ensure that they accurately reflect a player’s current strength.
To know how to get a fide rating is a great way to track your progress as a chess player and to compete against other strong players. If you are serious about chess, I encourage you to start playing in FIDE-rated tournaments and working towards getting a FIDE rating.
Obtaining a FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) rating is a significant achievement for any chess player. It is an internationally recognized measure of a player’s skill level and can open doors to competitive opportunities and recognition in the chess community. In this article, we’ll outline the step-by-step process of how to get a FIDE rating, from understanding the rating system to participating in FIDE-rated tournaments.
Understanding the FIDE Rating System
Prior to embarking on the path to attain a FIDE rating, comprehending the rating system’s mechanics is crucial. FIDE ratings are formulated using the Elo rating system, which evaluates a player’s performance in relation to their adversaries. A higher rating indicates a player of greater strength.
Strengthening Your Chess Skills
Enhancing your chess abilities forms the bedrock of earning a FIDE rating. Dedicate yourself to consistent training, delve into historical games for study, and tackle tactical puzzles. Contemplating enrollment in chess courses or collaborating with a coach can expedite your advancement.
Join a Local Chess Club
Participating in a local chess club provides you with the opportunity to play against a variety of opponents, both more robust and weaker. This experience will help you gauge your skill level and refine your techniques.
How do I register for FIDE?
The first thing to do is sign up with your country’s chess group on their official website. When you sign up, they’ll give you a special FIDE ID number, and that lets you take part in FIDE-rated tournaments.
To do this, go to your country’s official chess group website that matches where you live. When you’re there, look for the part that’s about tournaments that count for ratings.
Once you’ve decided which tournament you want to join, click on it. This will take you to a new page with all the details about that tournament and the people organizing it.
Pro tip: Keep an eye out for something called the ‘event code.’ You need this code for all registered tournaments. So make sure you can find it in your tournament details.
You can talk to the people organizing the tournament by email (usually they give you an email or some other way to contact them). Ask them for the tournament brochure.
When you get the brochure, you’ll learn about how much it costs to join, the prizes you can win, the age groups allowed to play, and other stuff like that.
So, this is how you can figure out which tournaments to play in if you want to get a FIDE rating without needing help from others.
I explained all this assuming you live in India. But don’t worry if you’re in another country. The process will be kind of similar.
You need to find the tournaments that count for ratings, sign up for them, play the games, and then you’ll get your FIDE rating. It’s pretty simple, actually.”
Play in FIDE-Rated Tournaments
You can get FIDE ratings by playing in special chess tournaments called FIDE-rated tournaments. These tournaments are approved by your country’s chess group and they follow the rules set by FIDE. To get started, find out about the FIDE-rated tournaments happening near you. Once you find one, sign up to take part.
Obtain a FIDE ID
To participate in FIDE-rated tournaments, you need a FIDE ID. In order to track your performance and update your rating, you need this unique identifier. Through your national chess organization or federation, you can obtain a FIDE ID.
You may need to provide your name, gender, birth date, email address, and a recent photo.
Once your profile is activated and you get the FIDE ID you can check that on FIDE’s website. Your URL will be like this: “https://ratings.fide.com/profile/FIDEID”. For example, below you can see the FIDE profile of great chess player Magnus Carlsen.
Initial Rating
If you’re taking part in your very first FIDE-rated tournament, you’ll begin with a starting rating. This rating is based on how well you do in that tournament, and it’s like a beginning point that they use to adjust your rating in the future.
To earn an initial chess rating from FIDE, you need to play at least 5 games of chess against other players who already have ratings. You also need to score at least half a point in those games. And your performance in these games needs to be good enough, which means your performance rating should be at least 1000.
It’s important to know that you don’t have to play against all 5 rated players in just one tournament. You can play these games across different tournaments that happen within a time of about 26 months.
Remember, the FIDE rating rules say that you don’t have to play all these games in one go or against all 5 rated players in just one tournament. Your results from other tournaments that come within about 26 months are taken into account to figure out your initial rating.
Consistent Participation
Being consistent is really important if you want to get a FIDE rating. Join in lots of FIDE-rated tournaments so you can gather enough games for them to figure out your rating accurately. The more games you play, the better they’ll understand how good you are at chess and the more reliable your rating will be.
Rating Calculation
After every tournament, FIDE ratings are figured out by looking at how well you played and the ratings of the people you played against. If you win against players with higher ratings, or if you lose to players with lower ratings, your rating will change in different ways.
Monitor Your Progress
Check your FIDE rating regularly. You can do this on the official FIDE website or through your national chess federation. This will help you track your progress and set new goals for improvement.
Tracking your FIDE rating is a great way to see how you are progressing as a chess player. It can also help you set new goals for improvement. For example, if you are currently rated at 1500, you might set a goal of reaching 1600 within the next year.
By regularly checking your FIDE rating, you can stay motivated and focused on your chess goals.
Continual Improvement
Achieving a FIDE rating is not the end of the journey. Learn from your experiences, refine your skills, and analyze your games. Due to your dedication to improving, you will naturally receive a higher rating.
Conclusion
Obtaining a FIDE rating is a major accomplishment for any chess player. It is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and skill. By understanding the rating system, consistently participating in FIDE-rated tournaments, and continually improving your skills, you can work your way up the rating ladder and gain recognition in the global chess community.
But remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. Each game you play is an opportunity to learn and grow as a chess player. So don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep playing, keep learning, and keep improving. With hard work and dedication, you will eventually achieve your goals.
Tehreem Tariq 
Azka Sabeeh