There are a number of over-the-board players and correspondence players with established ratings. The players with both ratings have been asking themselves why their correspondence rating is greater then their over-the-board rating. The ratings for the first time correspondence player could be over rated in the first place, even if they pick the bottom rating class (class D).
At one time or the other have been in correspondence play, checking the other players over-the-board rating, finding most but not all the other players in the event without any over-the-board rating of any type (regular or quick). Only someone in the office, could give a break down of the correspondence players with established over-the-board (regular) rating, with established correspondence rating, against, only having a established correspondence rating with no over-the-board (regular) rating.
When someone starts to play correspondence chess, without any over-the-board rating, the worst rating class they can ask for, would be as a class D player; if they do have an over-the-board rating, they could have their rating as a class E or below, only having their rating class placed as a class D correspondence rating. The correspondence department will let a player pick the rating class (class A, class B, class C, and class D) if they have no over-the-board rating.
USCF regular rating distribution chart as of November 1, 2004
Rating range 100 - 199, percentile 4.83% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 299, percentile 7.86% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 399, percentile 11.41% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 499, percentile 15.43% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 599, percentile 19.63% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 699, percentile 24.16% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 799, percentile 28.60% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 899, percentile 32.87% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 999, percentile 37.18% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 1099, percentile 41.55% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
Rating range 100 - 1199, percentile 46.24% of non-scholastic members regular rating.
If someone started to play correspondence chess, even if they did pick the rating class of class D (1200 - 1399), 46.24% (non-scholastic members) would be over rated to their over-the-board regular rating. If a scholastic player did play correspondence chess, if they did pick the rating class of class D (1200 - 1399), 92.21% would be over rated to their over-the-board regular rating. Having players with over rated ratings, would only make the other players have in time over rated ratings – when they play and win.
When someone has an over-the-board rating with a correspondence rating, with them having a established over-the-board rating at or higher then a class D. The players they do meet up and win against in correspondence chess, they should be winning against players with over rated correspondence ratings from the start.
The only way the correspondence ratings could get closer to the over-the-board ratings, would be asking the correspondence department to accept players asking for a rating class of class E (1000 - 1199), and class F (800 - 999). Even with this, the percentile would (non-scholastic members regular rating) be 28.60% below a class F, or (scholastic members regular rating) 66.41% for the scholastic players. When over-the-board players are asking why their correspondence ratings are inflated, as they are being paired up with players with over inflated ratings from the start.
For all members the average regular rating is 1068 (class E), or, for all members the quick rating is 977 (class F) – how can the correspondence department only start players with their worst rating class as class D (1200 - 1399)? For only the (adult members) the average regular rating is 1198 (class E), or, adult members the quick rating is 1097 (class E); the scholastic members regular rating is 668 (class G), or, scholastic members quick rating is 675 (class G) – how can the correspondence department only start members with their worst rating class as class D (1200 - 1399)? If someone has a average rating or lower then the average rating, the player would be asking the correspondence department to place them into a higher rating class in the first place.
When the established over-the-board player is asking whey their correspondence rating is 300 or 500 points higher then their over-the-board rating – the evidence points to the correspondence rating being inflated from the very first game.