Why did my rating drop a lot after one game?

Why a single loss can swing your number — especially early on.

Rating changes are not flat. The same loss can cost you 6 points or 60 depending on who you played and how new you are.

The first 15 rated games in any time control are provisional. We start everyone at 1200 with no information about your strength, so each result moves your number much faster than it will later.

A provisional game can swing your rating by 30–80 points. After provisional ends, the same result moves you 4–20.

The system expects you to beat a player 200 points below you most of the time. When you lose to them, the rating engine corrects sharply. Numbers per the standard formula:

Rating gap Expected result Points if you LOSE --- --- --- Opponent +400 You should lose 2 Opponent +200 You probably lose 6 Even 50/50 16 Opponent −200 You should win 26 Opponent −400 You almost always win 30

(Numbers assume K-factor 32. K is higher during provisional.)

Each time control (Bullet, Blitz, Rapid, Classical) carries its own rating, and your first games in a new one are provisional all over again. Your Blitz rating doesn't carry into Rapid.

Tournaments can use a different rating pool with adjusted K, so a 50-point swing in an arena is normal.

- Stay in your time control until you've finished provisional in it. - Don't farm — beating much weaker players gains almost nothing. - Lose well — focus on the game review, not the number.

For the full mechanics, see How your rating works.

The Endgame Society help center covers accounts, memberships, ratings, gameplay, and troubleshooting. If an article does not answer your question, our team replies to support tickets directly.

Why did my rating drop a lot after one game? | Endgame Society Help