Re: [math-fun] Chess ratings probability distribution function

A good place to start on the mathematics of chess ratings is Mark Glickman's 1995 "A Comprehensive Guide to Chess Ratings". Links to that and subsequent work may be found here: http://www.glicko.net/research.html . A useful overview is here: http://www.chess.com/blog/kurtgodden/elo-to-glicko-your-rating-explained .