In the world of chess, getting a FIDE rating is a big milestone. It tells organizers, clubs and opponents anywhere in the world how strong you are, and it lets you track your progress over the years. FIDE, the International Chess Federation, calculates ratings from results in FIDE-rated tournaments.
This guide covers both things people mean when they search for a "FIDE rating": the official FIDE rating you earn over the board, and the online rating you can earn on FIDE's official online platform. They are two different ratings, and it helps to know which one you are after.
What is a FIDE rating?
A FIDE rating is a number based on your results against other rated players in FIDE-rated tournaments. It is a universal measure of playing strength, so a 1600 in Serbia means the same as a 1600 in India or Brazil. Separate ratings exist for standard, rapid and blitz chess.
How to get an official FIDE rating, step by step
Step 1: Register with your national chess federation
FIDE works through national federations, so your first contact is your country's chess federation. Each federation has a rating administrator who handles FIDE matters for that country. You can usually find their contact on the federation's website.
Step 2: Get your FIDE ID
Before you play your first FIDE-rated tournament you need a FIDE ID, a unique number that FIDE uses to record your games and rating. Your rating administrator assigns it, often within a day. Read our full guide: How to Get a FIDE ID.
Step 3: Play in FIDE-rated tournaments
Only games in FIDE-rated over-the-board (OTB) tournaments count towards your official rating. These events are organized by clubs, federations and other chess organizations, and they follow FIDE's rules. To find them, check your national federation's calendar, chess-results.com, or the tournament calendar on Outpost Chess, where you can find many OTB FIDE-rated events.
Step 4: Play at least 5 games against rated opponents
Under the FIDE Rating Regulations in force since 1 March 2024, your first rating is published once it is based on at least 5 games against rated opponents. The games do not have to come from one tournament: results from tournaments played within a period of up to 26 months are added together. If you score zero in your very first event, that event is not counted.
Step 5: How your first rating is calculated
Your first rating is based on your performance against your rated opponents, with two extra hypothetical draws against players rated 1800 added to the calculation. The lowest possible FIDE rating is 1400 (it used to be 1000 before March 2024), and a first rating can be at most 2200.
Step 6: Wait for the next rating list
FIDE publishes a new rating list on the first day of every month. Once your 5 games are reported, your rating appears on the next list.
Step 7: Check your rating
Search your name or FIDE ID on ratings.fide.com. Add your FIDE ID to your Outpost Chess profile too, so clubs and tournament organizers can find you.
Can you get a FIDE rating online?
Yes, but it is a different rating. FIDE's official online platform, World Chess Arena (formerly FIDE Online Arena), gives you an online FIDE rating in standard, rapid, blitz and bullet, plus online titles such as Arena Candidate Master (ACM) and Arena FIDE Master (AFM). These appear on your FIDE profile, but they are separate from your official over-the-board rating. Here is how it works:
- Create an account on World Chess Arena.
- Play rated games. Only rated games on the platform count towards your online rating.
- Keep playing. Your online rating updates as you play, and enough strong results can earn you an Arena title.
If your goal is an official FIDE rating for over-the-board tournaments, follow Steps 1 to 7 above.
Frequently asked questions
How many games do I need for a FIDE rating? At least 5 games against FIDE-rated opponents. They can be spread over several tournaments within 26 months.
What is the lowest FIDE rating? 1400, since 1 March 2024.
How long does it take? FIDE publishes ratings monthly, on the first day of the month. Once you have played 5 rated games, your rating appears on the next list.
Do I need a FIDE ID first? Yes. Ask your national rating administrator for one before your first FIDE-rated tournament.
Keep improving
Getting a FIDE rating is the start, not the finish. Play regularly, and review every game, especially the ones you lose. Platforms like Chess.com and Lichess have their own rating systems that are good for daily practice. On Outpost Chess you can play, find FIDE-rated tournaments, and analyze your games with Outposty, our AI chess coach, which explains why a move was a mistake, not just which move was better.
Cheers, Lena CEO
