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British Chess Federation

HOW GRADING WORKS AND OTHER INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

This web page contains notes and extracts from the preface to the BCF Grading list providing general information on how the grading system works. Copies of the Grading list can be purchased from the BCF Office price £13. General enquiries on Grading can be addressed to Chris Majer (cemajer@aol.com).

Grading provides a measure of a player's ability and is based on the results of games played between 1^st June 2001 and 5^th June 2002. All players who have had at least one game recorded on the system in the current season and at least 10 games recorded on the system in the previous three seasons are included in the Grading list. Follow this link for further details of how grades are calculated.

To ensure that more data gets on the system and makes the Grades more accurate, players should ask organisers to ensure that the results are sent in for Grading. The register of events lists all events that were submitted for Grading this year. There are also other ways you can help improve the accuracy of the system

This season sees a continuation of the 'Game Fee' scheme. Apart from junior tournaments, only events that are affiliated to the BCF have been included in this year's Grading List. So if you wish your games to be Graded in future make sure the Leagues and Congresses that you play are affiliated. Alternatively, Direct Members of the BCF can have their games from non-affiliated (including overseas) events included in the Grading List by sending them to the Grading Database Manager - Richard Haddrell (rjh@sccu.ndo.co.uk) and additionally can obtain a summary of the results which have been included for them.

Important changes this season are :

1. changes to the rules on eligiblity for grading.

2. changes to the conversion from FIDE Elo to BCF; note that these do not affect conversions from foreign national ratings.

During the year the Grading Director has carried out surveys of players to determine what they want from the grading system. Some players have suggested that the BCF grading system should be altered or abandoned in view of plans by FIDE to extend their system to cover all standards of play. A response to these suggestions is included, explaining why we need a BCF grading system.