Puzzle ratings on Chess.com
Puzzle ratings work a little differently than chess ratings. The key difference is that you always earn points for solving a puzzle correctly, even if it’s easy. In contrast, in regular chess games, beating a much lower-rated player might not increase your rating at all.
Just like in chess, puzzle ratings adjust based on the puzzle’s difficulty compared to your current rating. For example:
If your puzzle rating is 2000 and you solve a 1000-rated puzzle, you’ll gain only a few points, but if you miss it, you’ll lose a lot.
If you solve a puzzle rated 2500, you’ll gain many points. If you miss it, you won’t lose much.
You’ll earn points only if your first correct move comes before using a hint. If you ask for a hint first, you won’t gain any points for solving it.
How do pending puzzles work?
Occasionally, you might encounter a puzzle where you receive one point even if you get it wrong. These are 'pending puzzles,' which have not yet been rated. About 5% of the puzzles you encounter will be new and unrated. You will never lose points for getting a pending puzzle wrong.
How are puzzle ratings determined?
When a puzzle is first added, its rating is determined by who is able to solve it. After a set period, the puzzle’s rating becomes locked and does not change further. In some cases, if a puzzle’s rating is found to be inaccurate, Chess.com may adjust it to better reflect its difficulty.
You can make practicing rated puzzles more dynamic and fun by enabling Puzzle Points. Learn how to do it here: What are Puzzle points on Chess.com?