FIDE Master (FM) is a lifetime FIDE title awarded to players who reach a FIDE rating of 2300. Unlike the IM and GM titles, it requires no norms.
FIDE Master is the third rung of the international title ladder, above Candidate Master and below International Master. FIDE introduced it in 1978, and like the titles above it, it is held for life once awarded.
The requirement is refreshingly clean: reach a FIDE rating of 2300 at any point and apply. No norms are needed, though FIDE also awards the title directly for outstanding results in certain official events, such as world and continental youth championships.
Do not let the missing norms fool you: 2300 is a serious number. A typical FM has tight opening preparation, rarely misses a tactic, and wins most club championships they enter. For an adult improver in the 1100 to 1800 range, an FM is a useful picture of what mastery of the fundamentals actually looks like.
Reach a FIDE rating of 2300 at any point and apply for the title. No norms are required, and the title is held for life. FIDE can also award it directly for results in certain official championships.
Very strong. A typical FM outrates an 1100 to 1800 club player by 500 to 1,200 points, which translates to an expected score above 90 percent over a long match.
BetterChess is a practice tool — we make no guarantee you'll reach 1800 or any rating. Definitions are standard chess terminology; every diagram position is checked legal with the same engine the board runs.