user1811: Can anyone provide a simple formula to convert the elo rating provided by the chess program Shredder to actual FIDE rating. I am only looking for an approximate formula, maybe something like: FIDE_rating = a * shredder_rating + b, where 'a' and 'b' are numbers. The purpose of this is to get a good estimate of your FIDE rating without actually participating in a FIDE rated tournament and to give people a feel for their chances of success before enrolling in a FIDE rated tournament.

user2001: I don't think it is possible to convert the Shredder rating to a FIDE Elo rating.
In general, the rating system has the purpose to create a relative ranking of all players based on their results against one another. Your rating from playing games with classical time controls makes it possible to say something about your level of play. Already at this point it is difficult to compare ratings from different time controls (e.g. blitz versus classical).
My point is that you can use your online blitz rating to estimate what FIDE blitz rating you could get over the board (OTB). Yet, it is harder to use your online blitz rating to estimate your OTB rating with classical time controls.
One way to get an estimate of your OTB rating is

Register on a serious online blitz site
Play rated blitz games with the minimum time control of (5 min or 3 min + 2 sec per move)
Ask your opponents what their OTB rating is
Make notes on your results and the opponents' OTB ratings
Calculate your performance rating.


1811: <p>Can anyone provide a simple formula to convert the elo rating provided by the chess program Shredder to actual FIDE rating. I am only looking for an approximate formula, maybe something like: FIDE_rating = a * shredder_rating + b, where 'a' and 'b' are numbers. The purpose of this is to get a good estimate of your FIDE rating without actually participating in a FIDE rated tournament and to give people a feel for their chances of success before enrolling in a FIDE rated tournament.</p>
 2001: <p>I don't think it is possible to convert the Shredder rating to a FIDE Elo rating.</p>

<p>In general, the rating system has the purpose to create a relative ranking of all players based on their results against one another. Your rating from playing games with classical time controls makes it possible to say something about your level of play. Already at this point it is difficult to compare ratings from different time controls (e.g. blitz versus classical).</p>

<p>My point is that you can use your online blitz rating to estimate what FIDE blitz rating you could get over the board (OTB). Yet, it is harder to use your online blitz rating to estimate your OTB rating with classical time controls.</p>

<p>One way to get an estimate of your OTB rating is</p>

<ol>
<li>Register on a serious online blitz site</li>
<li>Play rated blitz games with the minimum time control of (5 min or 3 min + 2 sec per move)</li>
<li>Ask your opponents what their OTB rating is</li>
<li>Make notes on your results and the opponents' OTB ratings</li>
<li>Calculate your performance rating.</li>
</ol>
