Is this true for you? (handicap/oddsgame)

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ElKitch

For my chess variant Economy Chess (download) I am trying to work out a formula that gives the weaker player an advantage when playing against a stronger player. (also see an earlier thread on this) I've derived a formula that may work well, and I hope some of you will fill in some values to see if it seems correct to you.


In normal standard chess odds are given by taking away a piece (or tempo). The disadvantage of this system is that you can't give a precise advantage. I.e.: it's impossible to give someone "3/4 knight odds", because you cant take away 3/4 of a knight. 

In Economy Chess this is possible because a piece has price. A knight costs 75 coins, so if you want to give "3/4 knight odds" the player gets (3/4*75=) 56 coins to start with.

So in Economy Chess players get odds by giving them startingmoney that can be spend on piece to their own good.

The formula

The goal of the formula is that players can input their own rating and the rating of their opponent. The output is a number of coins that the weaker player gets at the start.

x1 = strong player rating
x2 = weak player rating

Formula: (x1-x2)/(40 + 1.0025^x2)*25 = # of coins

Example:
Me (1200) vs computer HARD (2200)
(2000-1200)/(40+1.0025^1200)*25 = 333 coins

Value of the pieces in Economy Chess:
Default prices (coins):
Pawn: 25 
Knight: 75
Bisshop: 78
Rook: 125
Queen: 225

Some more examples:
player A (900) vs player B (1100)
(1100-900)/(40+1.0025^900)*25 = 101 coins

player A (1100) vs player B (1400)
(1400-1100)/(40+1.0025^1100)*25 = 134 coins

player A (1400) vs player B (1800)
(1800-1400)/(40+1.0025^1400)*25 = 137 coins

player A (1800) vs player B (2400)
(2400-1800)/(40+1.0025^1800)*25 = 115 coins

Me (1200) vs Carlsen (2835)
(2835-1200)/(40+1.0025^1200)*25 = 681 coins

 

So, if you feel like it: input your rating and that of an opponent and see if the result seems right to you. (if you dont know how to do it I can do it for you)