Your rating describes your results over many games. Sometimes you want to know something else: how well did I play in this one game? ChessWOW can estimate the playing level shown in an imported Lichess game, for both players, on the Lichess rating scale. This page explains how the estimate works, why it is limited to Lichess games and how to read it without over-reading it.
What the estimate is, and what it is not
The estimate is an approximate level for each player in one game, rounded and placed on the Lichess scale. Read it as a rough range, not as a precise number. It is not your Lichess rating, not a Chess.com rating and not a FIDE rating. A single game can differ a lot from a player's usual strength: a good day, a bad day, a short game decided by one blunder or an opponent who played unusually well all change the picture.
Rating, performance and estimate
Three numbers are easy to mix up. Your rating is calculated by a site from your results against other rated players over time. A performance rating for a tournament comes from your results and your opponents' ratings in those games, regardless of how well the moves were played. The estimate in ChessWOW ignores the result completely and looks only at the moves. That makes it useful for a different question: not "how many points did I score?", but "what did my play look like?"
How it works, simplified
The estimate uses Maia2, a research model from the CSSLab group. Maia2 was trained on a large number of online games and learned which moves players at different rating levels tend to choose in a given position. ChessWOW looks at the moves in your game and checks at which level they look most typical. The model does not judge whether a move is good; it judges whether it is the kind of move players at a certain level play. That is why the estimate can differ from your accuracy: a careful, solid game with one blunder can still look like the play of a strong player.
How typical the moves look at each level
Why only Lichess games
Rating numbers are not interchangeable. A 1500 on Lichess, on Chess.com and in over-the-board chess describe different levels, because each pool has its own players and its own system. The model behind the estimate learned from Lichess games, so ChessWOW only gives an estimate when it knows a game comes from Lichess. For other games, including Chess.com imports and PGN files, the report still shows accuracy, move classes and critical moments, just without a level estimate. The estimate is available for blitz and rapid games.
How to get an estimate
- Step 1
Import a Lichess game by entering your Lichess username in the import screen.
- Step 2
Open the game report. For games where an estimate is possible, you see the card "Lichess level".
- Step 3
Tap "Estimate playing strength". The first time, ChessWOW downloads the model data once, about 80 MB; use Wi-Fi if you can. You can cancel at any time.
- Step 4
Read the result for both players, together with the note that it is a rough estimate.
After the first download, the estimate runs on your device.
How to use it well
- Look for patterns, not single values. Estimate several games and see where most of them land.
- Compare with your real rating. Games estimated far below your rating are worth opening: what went wrong? Games far above often show what you do well.
- Combine it with the report. The estimate tells you how a game looked overall; the game report tells you which moves made the difference.
ChessWOW does not promise rating gains. What it gives you is a clearer view of individual games, so you can decide what to work on.
Questions and answers
Is the estimate my real rating?
No. It is a rough estimate of the level shown in one game, on the Lichess scale. It is not a FIDE rating and not your account rating.
Why can't I get an estimate for my Chess.com games?
Rating pools are not comparable, and the model was trained on Lichess games. For Chess.com games, the report shows accuracy and critical moments without a level estimate.
Why do two games with similar accuracy get different estimates?
The model looks at what kind of moves you chose, not only at how many points they lost.
Does the estimate need the internet?
Only once, to download the model data. After that it runs on your device.
How accurate is it?
It is meant as orientation. A single game can deviate clearly from a player's usual level, so compare several games.
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Import it by username and open the report.
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