What Is a Good Chess Rating?
Rating benchmarks to help you understand where you stand and where to aim.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: A good chess rating is one that is higher than it was last month. I am not being flippant. The only rating that should matter to you is your own, and the only comparison that matters is with your past self.
Rating Benchmarks
Chess ratings form a bell curve, with most players clustered around the middle. Here is what different rating ranges generally indicate about a player's skill level.
Below 1000: You are learning the basics - how pieces move, simple tactics, and elementary checkmates. This is where every chess player starts, and there is no shame in being here.
1000 to 1400: You have a grasp of fundamental tactics and can avoid most one-move blunders. You are a casual to improving player who sees basic patterns.
1400 to 1800: You understand strategy, can calculate short variations accurately, and have a developing opening repertoire. You are a solid club player.
1800 to 2200: You have strong tactical and positional skills. You can analyze positions deeply and have well-developed opening knowledge. You are competitive at tournament level.
Above 2200: You are approaching or have achieved master level. Your chess understanding is deep, and you can compete with titled players.
Context Matters
Remember that these benchmarks shift depending on the rating system. An 1800 on Lichess blitz is very different from an 1800 FIDE classical rating. Always consider which system you are comparing against.
Also consider your age and how long you have been playing. A 12-year-old rated 1400 after six months of play is on a very different trajectory than a 40-year-old rated 1400 after ten years. Both ratings are good - but they tell different stories.
The average active Chess.com player is rated around 800 to 1000 in blitz. If you are above 1200 on any major platform, you are already stronger than the majority of online chess players.
Setting Realistic Goals
Improvement in chess follows a logarithmic curve. The first few hundred points come relatively quickly as you learn basic tactics and stop hanging pieces. The next few hundred require more study and deliberate practice. Each subsequent gain requires more effort.
Set short-term goals in 100-point increments. Reaching the next hundred-point milestone is a tangible and achievable target that keeps you motivated without being overwhelming.
Do not compare yourself to prodigies or professional players. They represent a tiny fraction of the chess world. Compare yourself to where you were three months ago, and celebrate the progress you have made.
Rating Benchmarks FAQ
What rating do I need to be considered "good" at chess?
This is subjective. Among casual players, anything above 1200 online is respectable. Among club players, 1600 is solid. Among tournament players, 2000 is strong. Define "good" by your own standards and goals.
What percentage of players reach 2000?
A very small percentage. On most platforms, a 2000 rating puts you in the top 2 to 5 percent of active players. Over the board, it is even rarer. Reaching 2000 is a significant achievement.
Professor Archer says: Every hundred points you gain represents a meaningful improvement in your chess understanding. Celebrate each milestone. The journey from 800 to 900 is just as worthy of pride as the journey from 1900 to 2000.
Quick Quiz
On most online platforms, what does a rating of 1200 typically represent?
- A complete beginner who just learned the rules - Complete beginners typically rate below 800. A 1200 player has moved well beyond the basics.
- A player who understands basic tactics and avoids most blunders (Correct) - Correct. A 1200-rated player has a solid grasp of fundamentals and can spot basic tactical patterns, placing them above the average online player.
- A professional-level player - Professional players are typically rated well above 2200. A 1200 is a developing player with room to grow.
- An average grandmaster - Grandmasters are rated 2500 and above. A 1200 rating is far from grandmaster level.