@mcgoves said in #6:
> The math is definitely the direct answer (though I wouldn't mind seeing a derivation). But the basics are:
>
> The goal of the rating system is to get a number that represents your strength. At first, it has no idea what your strength is. After a while, when the estimate gets better, it realizes that the quality of the estimate has improved. If you stop playing for a while, the quality of the estimate slowly lowers.
>
> The rating estimate (what we call rating) and the quality of that rating are updated after every game, based solely on the win/lose/tie outcome. It is updated for both players.
>
> If you win, your rating goes up and your opponent's goes down. Your rating changes more when its quality is poor; it changes less when its quality is good. Same (but opposite direction) if you lose. After a game, your rating's quality changes too. Usually it improves. But if you're on a streak, I believe it recognizes it may be off, and so the quality degrades.
>
> Your opponent's strength also affects your rating swing. Beating a high-rated opponent gives you more points than beating a weaker one.
>
> The same considerations are applied to your opponent independently. It is normal for the point changes to not match. This differs from most OTB play.
thx
@mcgoves -good explination