From: Larry Kaufman <lkaufman <at> COMCAST <dot> NET>
Date: 2 nov 2002
Subject: Re: Elo system

----- Original Message -----
From: "Justin Hollingworth" <justinh <at> UKGATEWAY <dot> NET>
To: <SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL>
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: Elo system


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry Kaufman" <lkaufman <at> COMCAST <dot> NET>
> To: <SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL>
> Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 4:17 PM
> Subject: Re: Elo system
>
> <SNIP>
>
> >      From studies comparing ShogiDojo ratings to PanAtlantic (which are
> > comparable to the average Japanese club), I can say that ShogiDojo Dan
> ranks
> > are two ranks stricter, and kyu ranks are 4-5 ranks stricter.  So Mr.
> Kumei
> > is telling the truth.
> >
> > > Bill Gaudry
> > >
> >      Larry Kaufman
>
> Larry
>
> Just to clarify then, are the ShogiDojo rankings comparable to the
> European/American ELO rankings?

     NO!

If my current ELO ranking is 8 kyu, is that
> what I should be putting as my initial ranking when I first register for
it?
>
     If your Pan-Atlantic rating is in the 8 kyu range, your level on
ShogiDojo is probably around 13 kyu!  In reality it may be even lower (the
lowest is 15 kyu), because the spread widens at lower levels.  The point is
that the average Japanese who plays on ShogiDojo and registers as a
"beginner" is probably around your level, which is of course not at all what
we would call a "beginner".  Real beginners just don't play on ShogiDojo
generally.
     Of course if you don't mind getting trounced you can start at your 8
kyu rank, but don't expect to win many games until your rating drops into
the 13-15 kyu range.
     It would be nice to hear from you what actually happens once you've
played the thirty games required for a "real" rating.

     Larry Kaufman
> Justin