Don't think so ... and there are a ton of threads on this very same topic, so searching the forums would probably lead you to the answers you seek.
My opinion : Trying to equate tactics trainer and mentor ratings to actual OTB strength is really pointless. Sure, you can keep correlating and looking for patterns and trends, but the only valid trend is this :
Strong OTB / tournament chess players will do EQUALLY (if not more) well in OTHER mediums.
Most adult OTB tournaments involve the following non-chess factors that ALL add up to your OTB playing strength/rating.
- Stamina to play back to back long drawn out games over a 1-3 day span
- Nerves, psychological factors, gamesmanship (intimidation, distractions)
- The ability to reboot your brain, forget baggage from previous games and give the next one your 100%
- Discipline/Toughness: It's easy to find an armchair expert online who can play brilliantly when he's in his comfort zone and rage-quit when his ego gets sore after a beating ... but most adults who play OTB are committed enough to spend a day/weekend at the venue, so there's no way your opponents are going to let you go without a fight.
Furthermore, all chess games (on any medium) have the following skill requirements that mentor/tactics trainer will NOT train you for
- Time Management. Most online players who never touched OTB pretty much suck at this. (either play too fast or too slow)
- Playing tactically safe moves nearly 100% of the time as part of your thought process. Not every position OTB is a puzzle with an answer. Mentor/Tactics trainers HAVE a known answer. My own coach tells me that I do pretty well when he presents me tactical or positional "puzzles" to solve ... but I seem to play completely different (mostly like an idiot) when I'm playing an actual game. Bottomline => It's not the same when it's your move in a real game and there's no "find the winning move" hint floating above the board.
So, please stop digging any further than this. Comparing OTB strength to a rating based on how well you perform "one" piece of a plethora of chess skills makes little sense.
If you want to know your OTB strength, it isn't hard to sign up for a local USCF (or Federation-rated) tournament and play. You'll be supporting your Chess Federation and it's a lot of fun ... and you're no longer going to be left wondering where you stand, especially if it is an open tournament with a lot of strong players.
Hi. Has anyone checked the coralation between tactics ratings on here & real ratings (OTB)? Also, how do these ratings compare with FIDE & USCF? I do believe that this most likely is a superior formula because it takes more into account but do you think I can read much into it to tell if I'm improving by trying to compare it to other ratings? I've read on here that people believe the chess mentor rating based on your results from the lessons gives an inflated rating. Is that so? Do you think these ratings are a true reflextion of your playing strength? Thanks, Damon