Hi, my Rapid rating has recently been increasing but I don't feel like I'm any better.
I understand vaguely that GLICKO system puts us somewhere on a normal distribution. So whilst it is true that I am better than 70% of the players on Lichess, when last year I was only better than 50% of the players. I wonder now has my chess objectively improved over this period?
If there has been an increase in users of Lichess, it's likely they are lower skilled (because they are new), which would correspondingly push my ELO up without my skill level actually increasing. I'm intrigued if this is the case?
I'm not complaining this is the nature of ELO systems, I'm just wondering if my theory is possible, or; as I hope; that my theory is debunked by your goodselfves and I can be content that my chess skill has indeed objectively improved.
I understand vaguely that GLICKO system puts us somewhere on a normal distribution. So whilst it is true that I am better than 70% of the players on Lichess, when last year I was only better than 50% of the players. I wonder now has my chess objectively improved over this period?
If there has been an increase in users of Lichess, it's likely they are lower skilled (because they are new), which would correspondingly push my ELO up without my skill level actually increasing. I'm intrigued if this is the case?
I'm not complaining this is the nature of ELO systems, I'm just wondering if my theory is possible, or; as I hope; that my theory is debunked by your goodselfves and I can be content that my chess skill has indeed objectively improved.