Elo Rating System
Understand the skill-based ranking system used to rate players
Foosball Arena uses a sophisticated Elo rating system, the same algorithm used in chess and competitive gaming. This ensures fair and accurate skill assessment, where beating stronger opponents earns more points than beating weaker ones.
Triple Elo System
Each player maintains three separate Elo ratings that are updated independently:
- Global Elo: Updated after every match, regardless of type. Represents your overall skill.
- 1v1 Elo: Only updated after singles matches. Shows your individual playing ability.
- 2v2 Elo: Only updated after doubles matches. Reflects your team play skills.
This allows you to track your performance across different game modes separately.
How Elo Works
The Elo system calculates expected outcomes based on rating differences:
- Starting Elo: All new players begin with 1500 points
- K-Factor: Maximum rating change per match is 32 points
Example scenarios:
- Equal match (1500 vs 1500): Winner gains +16, loser loses -16
- Upset victory (1400 beats 1600): Winner gains ~+24, loser loses ~-24
- Expected victory (1600 beats 1400): Winner gains ~+8, loser loses ~-8
The bigger the upset, the bigger the reward!
Team Elo in 2v2
For doubles matches, the team's Elo is calculated as the average of both teammates' ratings:
Team Elo = (Player 1 Elo + Player 2 Elo) / 2
- Both teammates gain or lose the same amount
- Individual ratings are updated separately
- Pairing with a lower-rated partner increases potential gains