How ratings work
Every player gets a single rating number. The better you do against strong opponents, the higher it climbs. Here are the common questions.
What does the number mean?
It's an estimate of your playing strength. Beating a stronger player raises it more; losing to a weaker one lowers it more. Everyone starts around the same value and moves from there based on results.
Why does my profile say “Placing…”?
When you're new or have played only a few matches, the system isn't sure of your true level yet, so you're “placing”. After enough games it settles and you appear on the public rankings.
Why did my rating jump a lot at first, then settle?
Early on the system knows little about you, so each result moves you a lot. As you play more, it gets more confident and your rating changes more gently — that's by design.
Why does it get less certain if I stop playing?
If you don't play for a while, your real level may have changed, so the system becomes less sure of your old number. A few matches after you return will re-calibrate it quickly.
Ratings use Glicko-2, a widely-used rating system that tracks not just your strength but how confident we are about it.