[quote][b]Tai MT writes[/b] Is there a way to explain how some people lose a game and gain a level for the loss? A few people have reported this, including myself. I, in fact, earned my first 41 by this method.[/quote] Yes, in fact there is! Remember the conservative ranking system? Your shown skill level = Mu(the game's assessment of your peak (in terms of bell curve) skill level) MINUS {Sigma times K} where K is a number that Bungie and Microsoft just makes up. However, the value of K is usually 3 according to Microsoft Research. When you lost that game to get your 41, your Mu dropped probably very little, as I conjecture you were playing a higher level opponent. However, your Sigma value dropped more than your Mu value, so the actual conservative ranking equation came out higher than it did the previous game, pushing you up one rank. In other words, the system won't SHOW your peak level on the skill ranking until it is more "certain" of it.