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Frequently Asked Questions
 
What are CXR ratings, and why should I use them?
How long does it take to get my new rating after a game?
How can I see my updated rating?
What types of membership does CXR offer?
What are Tournament Membersips?
What are Premium Membersips?
What does it cost to become a Premium CXR member?
How do I sign up?
Is CXR service really FREE for clubs?
What if I am not a member of a CXR-affiliated chess club?
Can I report games to CXR?
How do I get an initial rating?
What kinds of reports does CXR furnish to my club?
What if a mistake is made reporting a game?
Can any game, not just tournament games, be reported?
Must both players in a game reported to CXR be registered with CXR?
Can I play at a CXR club other than my home club?
How does the CXR rating differ from the USCF rating?
Can a game be reported to both CXR and other rating authorities (e.g. USCF, CFC)?
How can I get my chess club to use Chess Express Ratings?
What is a "Roaming Knights" club?
What if my question was not answered here?

What are CXR ratings, and why should I use them?
CXR ratings provide you with more information than any traditional rating. As you use our service, you'll find that you have numerous statistics (not only a rating) that can give you advantages never before available. These statistics can help you decide what you need to study and practice for further improvement.

How long does it take to get my new rating after a game?
CXR posts updated ratings the day after your games have been reported to us by your club (or the Tournament Director).

How can I see my updated rating?
As a CXR Player, you will be able to access our web-site and see not only your rating, but many other helpful statistics and reports as well. Additionally, you can see CXR statistics of other players.

What types of membership does CXR offer?
There are two types of members: (a) Tournament Members, and (b) Premium Members. Both types get all the standard CXR ratings and statistics (more than 30 separate stats) plus charts and graphs.

What are Tournament Membersips?
Tournament Memberships are paid for by Tournament Directors in order to allow your games to be rated for one event. You don't pay us -- the TD pays us. You can play in an unlimited number of such events and never pay CXR for your membership. However, you will not have any games rated outside of these events. This can be a good way for you to try out CXR"s service. Tournament Directors need not check membership expiration dates, nor collect extra money from players for memberships and renewals.

What are Premium Memberships?
Premium Membership is generally desired by serious players, and allows you to play an unlimited number of rated games, including non-tournament games. You also get login privileges, and can save your game moves, plus other data, as well as your own, private notes on your games. Premium membership is ideal for club players and for students, most of whose games happen outside of the tournament setting.

What does it cost to become a Premium CXR member?
Your only cost is the annual player fee, often called "dues", of $9.00.

How do I sign up?
You can become a CXR player by either joining a CXR-affiliated club, or by playing in a CXR-rated tournament.

Is CXR service really FREE for clubs?
Yes, Chess Clubs, and other organizations (event Tournament Directors) may use our service free of charge, as long as they have at least eight Premium Members. Our expenses are covered by the dues paid by players. There are no "tournament submission" fees, no "per-game" fees, and no affiliation fees. Our only requirement for processing games is that the players are "in good standing"; if dues are payable, we ask our affiliates to collect them on our behalf.

What if I am not a member of a CXR-affiliated chess club?
We can help you find a CXR club or tournament in your area, or we can talk to your club about becoming a CXR-affiliate. We can also help you start your own chess club "on a shoestring" with as few as eight players. E-mail us for details. There is no cost for affiliation with CXR.

Can I report games to CXR?
Only an authorized club official or tournament director can report games.

How do I get an initial rating?
If you already have an established rating from the USCF or other recognized rating authority, CXR will accept this as your initial CXR rating. If you have no rating, your club official will assign you an initial provisional rating based upon his estimate of your playing strength. This provisional rating will become more accurate as more of your game results are reported, soon becoming an established CXR rating.

What kinds of reports does CXR furnish to my club?
CXR provides a variety of reports which are continuously available to you at the Chess Express web-site. These include detailed data on your play, as well as current listings of the top players. We keep records of your individual games for a minimum of two years, tracking your progress. As you use the service more, additional statistics will become available for you to view.

What if a mistake is made reporting a game?
In order to keep ratings up-to-date and accurate worldwide, your club may make corrections online. Certain types of corrections can only be made within 7 days of the game date; others may be made within two weeks; after that, no corrections are permitted.

Can any game, not just tournament games, be reported?
Yes, any regular, over-the-board chess game may be reported by your club, and all your reported games are incorporated into your statistical profile. Chess Express Ratings does not, however, rate "Blitz" games (under 7 minutes), or "irregular" games such as where one player gives odds of a piece, plays blind-fold, or is giving a "simul" (playing more than one opponent at a time). Games played over the internet may not be reported unless accredited officials are present on both ends to supervise the game.

Must both players in a game reported to CXR be registered with CXR?
YES. However, it is easy for your affiliate to register new players and the low cost is compelling.

Can I play at a CXR club other than my home club?
Yes. A currently-enrolled CXR player can play at any CXR club. If you are a frequent player at more than one club, you can even be listed on the roster of each club at no extra cost (the other clubs simply "import" your name from your home club to their rosters).

How does the CXR rating differ from the USCF rating?
The CXR ratings are more sensitive to recent performance than the USCF rating, so your latest successes will have a more noticeable impact on your CXR rating than they would with a USCF rating. The CXR formulas are easier to understand than the USCF system, and once you know how it works, you'll be able to "guesstimate" your new rating after each game. CXR also keeps numerous statistics for you, including separate stats when you play black and when you play white. But remember, in order for your official rating to change, your games must be reported to CXR.

Can a game be reported to both CXR and other rating authorities (e.g. USCF, CFC)?
Yes, and CXR encourages membership in both organizations, as well as your state (or provincial) chess organization.

How can I get my chess club to use Chess Express Ratings?
You can point out that Chess Express Ratings provides numerous statistics and performance metrics which give CXR players a tangible advantage. You should mention that there is NO COST to become a CXR affiliate. Affiliates may report as many games as they like with NO PER-GAME CHARGES (yes, that means tournaments can be rated FREE OF CHARGE). You can also point out that the club will likely gain new members who cannot afford the high cost of some other rating authorities. If you like, send us an e-mail with your club officer's name and email address. We will send him or her some helpful information.

What is a "Roaming Knights" club?
CXR has affiliate clubs known as Roaming Knights clubs (for example, Roaming Knights of Hawaii, Roaming Knights of Florida...). These affiliates are intended for: (1) Players who wish to become members of CXR but have not yet found an active club; (2) CXR members who moved away from their affiliate, and/or were suspended; (3) Players who are members of a CXR affiliate which has become inactive; (4) Players who join CXR in order to play in a tournament rather than a specific club.

Players belonging to the first type would be joining CXR before they have ever had an opportunity to play a CXR-rated game. It may be weeks or months before they can either locate any CXR-rated action or create a new CXR affiliate. Therefore, CXR automatically freezes their full 1-year membership intact until such time as their first CXR-rated game becomes official, and these are called "frozen memberships".

What if my question was not answered here?
Simply click on "Contact CXR" and use the contact form to submit your question.


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