FIBS Board backgammon forum

  I notice that the most "popular" formats tend to be knockout matches.
My idea incorporates a little bit of a Chess & Bridge format.

   This format could be run as a "Swiss" or a "Round Robin" depending on the number of participants or divisions. I also think the following structure would allow for the more consistant participants, that day,( negating the luck factor just a smidge ) to finish appropriatly in the standings.

   Let us start with a small event, 10 people. Each person would play
each other, say, 10 games. ( round robin ) Allowing no more than, say, a "double &
redouble" with the Cube.

   When all the "matches" have been completed the winner/winners would
be based on their Percental Score, similar to Duplicate Bridge scoring.

   The Percental Score is not based on the total games played,but on the --- Total Points Scored/Total Points
example using an individual match:=player A scores 11 pts=vs player B who scores =6 pts
player A = 11/17 for 64.7% & player B = 6/17 for 35.3%

For large turnouts, a Swiss format could be used. I suspect a 10 game match would take
no more than about 2 hours. A much faster format then even in some Chess events.

Any thoughts out there?

I've seen this sort of event tried live and it can make for an amusing evening, but as with all "Swiss" and "Round Robin" events, those losing in the early rounds either drift away or don't care much if they win or lose when they play in the later rounds. Double elimination is much better, rarely used either online or live sadly.
Nevertheless, applause for suggesting something new!

The trouble with running anything online is that people tend to log in for a quick game or two, then leave.  They dont want to get involved in something that might last half, or a whole day.  There are some who will, but it makes for a small tourney of the same faces 

Tomawaky runs some different formats [such as Swiss] from the FLG site - did you check there?

There is much more uptake there, because people play over a predefined length of time and schedule matches accordingly.

Here the results of 5 swiss Tournaments

And one more with a competition where you stay alive until you get less than 3 loss

The most difficult is to keep people motivated

The french Championship use the swiss format for eight round, and the 4 best players playing the semi-final. I think this is a great format but not so popular :-(

   My suggested format was intended for a "head to head" tournament. Admittedly this "system" of scoring would work ideally with different "flights" in place. Duplicate Bridge players would know what I mean.
   Obviously, some kind of rating system would have to be involved, but I am sure something could be worked out.

Backgammon, as played in Europe in the 1700-1900 period, was three point matches played without the cube. This format makes an excellent format for a side event, leading as it does to very exciting and skilful games. it could easily be played on fibs, but the matches do of course tend to take longer to play.
I recommend this form of the game to anyone who wants to develop their checker play, as of course backgammons and gammons have different values depending on the score.