What is Chess Accuracy?
Chess accuracy is a percentage that measures how closely your moves match the computer's recommended best moves. A higher accuracy means you played more like a perfect chess engine, while lower accuracy indicates more suboptimal decisions.
The accuracy calculation works by analyzing the centipawn loss of each move — how much evaluation you "lost" compared to the best move. This centipawn loss is converted to win probability, then averaged across all your moves to produce the final percentage.
Accuracy is useful for tracking improvement over time, comparing performance across games, and identifying where you tend to make the most costly mistakes.
What is a Good Chess Accuracy?
Your expected accuracy depends heavily on your rating level. Here's what to aim for:
| Rating Range | Expected Accuracy | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Under 800 | 50-60% | Beginner — many blunders expected |
| 800-1200 | 60-70% | Novice — fewer major blunders |
| 1200-1600 | 70-80% | Intermediate — consistent play |
| 1600-2000 | 80-88% | Advanced — solid technique |
| 2000-2400 | 85-92% | Expert/Master — high precision |
| 2400+ | 90-98% | Grandmaster — near-perfect play |
Note: Accuracy can vary significantly by game. Time control, complexity of positions, and whether you're winning or defending all affect your accuracy score.
How We Calculate Accuracy
chess.koz.tv uses the Lichess accuracy formula, which is based on win probability conversion:
- Each position is evaluated by Stockfish 17 to get a centipawn score
- Your move's evaluation is compared to the best move's evaluation
- The centipawn difference is converted to win probability loss
- All moves are averaged to produce your accuracy percentage
This method is more nuanced than simply counting blunders, as it considers the magnitude of each mistake and weights critical positions appropriately.
Why Does My Accuracy Differ from Chess.com?
If you've used Chess.com's game review, you may notice different accuracy numbers. This is because Chess.com uses their proprietary CAPS (Computer Aggregated Precision Score) formula, while we use the Lichess win probability method.
Neither is "wrong" — they're just different mathematical approaches to measuring move quality. Generally:
- Chess.com accuracy often shows slightly higher numbers
- Lichess/chess.koz.tv accuracy is more sensitive to small inaccuracies
- Both correlate strongly with playing strength
The important thing is consistency: track your accuracy over time using the same platform to measure improvement.
How to Improve Your Chess Accuracy
Analyze Your Games
Review every game to understand where you went wrong. Focus on moves with high centipawn loss.
Solve Tactics Daily
Most accuracy losses come from missed tactics. 15-30 minutes of puzzles daily builds pattern recognition.
Play Longer Time Controls
Give yourself time to think. Accuracy in 10-minute games is typically 10-15% higher than bullet.
Use Batch Analysis
Analyze multiple games to find recurring mistake patterns and problematic positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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