--- title: "International Master norm in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master-norm.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master-norm" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "An International Master norm is a title performance of at least 2450 against opponents averaging at least 2230." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/norm.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster-norm.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-performance.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tournaments-ratings-titles.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # International Master norm 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. An International Master norm is a title performance of at least 2450 against opponents averaging at least 2230. An International Master norm is a title performance of at least 2450 against opponents averaging at least 2230, achieved in an event that satisfies the title rules on administration and opponent mix. An [International Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master.md) norm follows the same template as a [Grandmaster norm](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster-norm.md) with lower numbers. The [performance rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-performance.md) must be at least 2450, the opponents must average at least 2230, and you must score at least 35 percent over at least nine games. Titles matter as well: half the field must carry one, and the IMs and GMs among the opponents must number a third of them, never fewer than three. The opponent [rating floor](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-floor.md) is 2050, applied only to the lowest rated opponent, and unrated opponents count as 1400. Two federations other than your own must appear, with the usual caps on opponents from a single federation. The event must also meet the administrative rules: registration on the FIDE server at least 30 days ahead, a chief [arbiter](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/arbiter.md) who holds an International Arbiter or FIDE Arbiter title, and no more than two rounds a day. One norm leaves you short, because the title also asks for 27 games across the norms and a peak rating of 2400. See norm, Grandmaster norm and International Master. Also called: IM norm. It sits close to [Norm tournament](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/norm-tournament.md). A norm tournament is an event organized with the conditions that let players score a title norm, such as the right mix of opponents, enough rounds and a qualified arbiter. Rating and title terms like "International Master norm" 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 - [Norm](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/norm.md) - [Grandmaster norm](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster-norm.md) - [International Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master.md) - [Title application](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md) - [Rating performance](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-performance.md) ## Guides that go further - [FIDE chess titles](https://georgelichess.com/titles.md): How the Candidate Master, FIDE Master, International Master and Grandmaster titles are earned, with every Handbook clause. - [Chess title norm calculator](https://georgelichess.com/tools/title-norm-calculator.md): Check one tournament against the FIDE norm rules, with every Handbook clause. - [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 B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024 (Clauses 0.5, 1.4.5, 1.4.6 and 1.4.8), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 - FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024 (Clauses 1.1.1, 1.1.3 and 1.1.5), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 - FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024 (Clauses 1.5.1 and 1.5.3), 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 - [Norm in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/norm.md) - [Grandmaster norm in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster-norm.md) - [International Master in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master.md) - [Title application in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md) - [Rating performance in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rating-performance.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)