--- title: "FIDE rating in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-rating.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-rating" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A FIDE rating is the Elo-based number that the World Chess Federation publishes each month for players with rated games, with a published minimum of 1400." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/elo-rating.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/national-federation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-list.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rapid-rating.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/us-chess-rating.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tournaments-ratings-titles.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # FIDE rating in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. A FIDE rating is the Elo-based number that the World Chess Federation publishes each month for players with rated games, with a published minimum of 1400. A FIDE rating is the Elo-based number that the World Chess Federation publishes each month for players with rated games, with a published minimum of 1400, and it is the rating that FIDE titles are measured against. FIDE keeps an official [rating list](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-list.md) that is updated on the first day of every month. In general a game is rated only if it follows the [Laws of Chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md), meets the minimum thinking time in the regulations, and is part of a tournament that was registered through the [national federation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/national-federation.md). A new player gets a published rating once they have played at least five games against rated opponents, and results from tournaments in consecutive rating periods of up to twenty-six months can be pooled to reach that number. The first rating must be at least 1400, and a player whose rating drops below 1400 is shown as unrated on the next list. A player counts as inactive after a year without a rated game and returns to active status after one rated game. The list shows the title, federation, rating, identification number and the current K value. FIDE also keeps separate ratings for rapid and blitz under its own regulations. Titles use the standard rating, since the Title Regulations define the word rating that way. A FIDE rating is not the same number as a national rating or an [online rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/online-rating.md), so do not mix them in comparisons. It sits close to [FIDE](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide.md). FIDE, the Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation, is the international body that publishes the Laws of Chess, keeps the rating lists and awards titles, working through its member national federations. A neighboring idea is [Blitz rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blitz-rating.md). A blitz rating is a rating earned in blitz games, kept on a separate list from standard and rapid ratings, because fast play measures a different skill. Also worth reading is [Rapid rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rapid-rating.md). A rapid rating is a rating earned in rapid games, kept apart from the standard rating, so the same player can hold different numbers for slow, rapid and blitz chess. Rating and title terms like "FIDE rating" matter once you know your next step, and the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) set out a weekly routine for each rating range. ## Related terms - [Elo rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/elo-rating.md) - [FIDE](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide.md) - [National federation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/national-federation.md) - [Rating list](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-list.md) - [Rapid rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rapid-rating.md) - [US Chess rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/us-chess-rating.md) ## Guides that go further - [Chess ratings explained](https://georgelichess.com/chess-ratings-explained.md): What a rating measures, how FIDE, Lichess, US Chess and chess.com compute theirs, and why the numbers differ. - [Average chess rating and a good chess rating](https://georgelichess.com/chess-rating-percentiles.md): What share of active Lichess players are rated above 800, 1200, 1500, 1800 or 2000, by time control. - [How to get a FIDE rating](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-get-a-fide-rating.md): The Handbook rules for a first FIDE rating: five rated games, the 1400 floor, the two 1800 draws and a worked example. ## Sources - FIDE Handbook B02 FIDE Rating Regulations (effective 1 March 2024) (Articles 7.1 to 7.2), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B022024 - FIDE Handbook B02 FIDE Rating Regulations (effective 1 March 2024) (Articles 0.2, 1 and 2), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B022024 - FIDE Handbook B01 FIDE Title Regulations (effective 1 January 2024) (Article 0.5), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Elo rating in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/elo-rating.md) - [FIDE in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide.md) - [National federation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/national-federation.md) - [Rating list in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-list.md) - [Rapid rating in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rapid-rating.md) - [US Chess rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/us-chess-rating.md) - [Chess terms: Tournaments, ratings and titles](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tournaments-ratings-titles.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)