J. Kyle Kistner

2002

Weapon Type Strength Estimate Range* Min Max
Foil DE 1749 529 - 2968 1749 1749
Foil Pool 1693 1067 - 2318 1693 1722
Saber DE 2640 1438 - 3841 2640 2640
Saber Pool 1288 665 - 1910 1288 1558
Épée DE 1959 1050 - 2867 1959 1959
Épée Pool 2124 1664 - 2583 2124 2124

* We're quite confident that the person's true strength is somewhere between those numbers. For those statistically inclined, it is a 95% confidence interval of the estimate (i.e., μ ± 2σ).

Matchup against me

Outcome Chance My strength change Their strength change
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Strength over time

The strength changes are summaries from all events of that day. The dotted line indicates that the strength rating is too uncertain.

Explanation

  • The strength number is a numeric representation of how a fencer has performed against others historically.
  • The system "learns" your strength as you fence. It takes about 12 bouts for it to zero in on a good estimate. This is why in the beginning you will often see wild fluctuations.
  • An unknown fencer starts with a 2500 strength, but with very high uncertainty.
  • Due to their different natures, pools, direct elimination, and mixed gender bouts are tracked separately.
  • The lowest possible is zero, average is around 2500, highest possible is around 5000. The scale is not linear, which means that higher numbers are increasingly harder to obtain. To be precise, the distribution of strength numbers looks like a bell curve.
  • If you beat a much stronger fencer, your strength will go up by a lot. If you beat a much weaker fencer, your strength will go up by little or maybe even not at all. Losses follow the same logic. You can see detailed changes after each bout in the bout history.
  • Probability of winning doesn't account for difference in fencing styles, familiarity with opponents, or any of such things. It is a reflection of the difference in strength estimates assuming that both of you perform just like you did against others in the past.