ABSTRACT: Rating plateaus are a significant challenge for chess players of various levels. They are demonstrated as periods of stagnation where progress becomes difficult to achieve. By analyzing the difference between 2000-2100 and 2400-2500 rated chess players on the Lichess online platform, the research investigates the distribution of stagnation among different levels of skills. Data analysis of game results, which included win, draw, and loss percentages, showed differences between these groups. Additionally, a survey among amateur players highlighted common trends. Findings indicate that lower-rated players face more pronounced plateaus due to a lack of fundamental skills, while higher-rated players encounter different challenges, such as adaptation to evolving competition. Insights from this study can help to create better training strategies and, as a result, help overcome the rating plateau.

Keywords: chess, rating, plateaus, skill development, learning curves, pattern recognition, performance rating, chess training, chess analysis