Walter Montego: I agree with Walter that the differential between winning and losing appears to be overstated -- the new system is better than the old one which effectively didn't recognize ratings differences at all (unless you were playing outside the 400-point band on either side of your own rating), but I think it represents an over-correction. I think we should give the new system a chance to operate before making judgments about it. We are used to playing under the old (flawed) rules; now we high-rated players are going to have to work hard to maintain our positions. I have suffered, too, because the change in the system coincided with something of a slump in my games; still I notice that those behind me are also suffering a decline. I expect a significant compression of the ratings spread, and I think that is a good thing. Why shouldn't we have a system under which a player can reasonably expect to climb into the upper echelons in a relatively short period of time? I think it should make the site more competitive and interesting.