The computer on the chess app feels stronger than the rating given

I’m messing around playing the chess.com app computer at level 13. It says it is 1700 strength but tactically it feels a lot stronger. Positionally it occasionally makes questionable choices but it is hard to capitalise because tactically it over compensates, at least that is my experience. I get an equal or better position and then it plays risky moves and demolishes me.

How have you found playing it? Also I don’t know if this is same computer as is on the normal website. I’m playing it on an iPad.

1700 at what time control?

1700 out of context doesn't mean anything.

Are you a 1300 or a 1700?

 

I read in an older post that the computer for chess.com utilizes your device's hardware so that can be taken into consideration for how well the computer plays. The Level 10 computer in the browser version of chess.com is the equivalent to the Level 20 computer of the smartphone app, for some reason the app has more variety in terms of difficulty levels.

This old 2016 post kinda summed it up ...


[deleted]
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Sep 13, 2016
The problem with computers is that they crush everyone, not just beginners. As a novice, you should be training yourself to spot tactics, play actively, and convert winning positions. Playing other humans will give you chances to practice this.

Computers, on the other hand, never give up a tactic. You'll never have a chance to GET a winning position, let alone convert one. And because you'll lose every game, you'll be training yourself to play passively (since your measure of success will be "number of moves before the engine crushed me").

If you play against an engine set on easy, it'll make mistakes, but very non-realistic ones. So that doesn't really address the problems.