Ratings, oh we have ratings

Well we have had many questions about ratings and as has been noticed there are many on the Chess.com site.  One rating is for turn based games in which one has up to a day or 3 or more to make a move.  Slower pace mostly but even if the time limits seem very long be careful not to 'time out'. This is taken as a loss, and gosh we dislike those, and one's ratings will go down.  I know many others have that thing called a 'Real Life' and can be busy doing non-nerdy things.  Fine but be sure not to lose games by 'timing out'.  There is also a Live chess rating which is speed chess.  It can be great but make sure you have good internet connection or know you will not be called away during the short time you have or it is another loss!  Yikes!  There is also a rating for 960 games which are ones in which the back row pieces are randomly scattered or switched around before starting.  This can be a different approach to learning tactics and some fun.  Also one can get ratings for the tactics trainer exercises.  These are good safe practice.  Later on we will look at other ratings on this site.  These 4 are good indications of strength if one has many games in that rating.  Yet one could always rely on the subjective rating system when asked and then state "Yep, I'm purty good."