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Don't miss out on the opportunity to win one of the major trophies on offer. Especially the 2011 Pentamind
World Amateur Poker
This is an event open to both adults and juniors alike. Practice your live poker and you may even get to call yourself the Amateur World Champion.
We don't play for money just medals. This gives a unique opportunity for under 18s to show how good they are with a junior title up for grabs too!
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VP Example
Assuming the following results occured in a 5 round Swiss Movement
| Round 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Number | White | Black | VP (for white) |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | 5 | 6 | 0.5 |
| 4 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| Round 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Number | White | Black | VP (for white) |
| 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 3 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Round 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Number | White | Black | VP (for white) |
| 1 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 4 | 7 | 2 | 0.5 |
| Round 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Number | White | Black | VP (for white) |
| 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 2 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Round 5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Number | White | Black | VP (for white) |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| 3 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Player ID | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | VP | Rank before tie-break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4th | ||
| 2 | 0 | x | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 7= | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | x | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1= | ||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1= | ||
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | 0.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 6th | ||
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | x | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | 5th | ||
| 7 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 0 | 0.5 | 7= | ||
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | x | 4 | 1= |
Final Tables
A final table is used after a random draw or round robin movement and the top scoring players including the tie-break are selected for a finla tbale in the last round.
Final table Guaranteed Medals
Sometimes a final table will be used where certain medals must come from the table such as Gold or Gold and Silver even if a player on a lower table ends up with a higher VP.
This does not apply to the standings for the Pentamind points where VP are used alone
Winner of final table takes Gold
Irrespective of total VP the player who finishes first on the final table (where the top placed players compete) wins the gold.
This does not apply to the standings for the Pentamind points where VP are used alone
Final table adjusted VP
Another variation of the final table scoring is to score each player Half the VP of a win coupled with half the normal VP for position.
Tie-Break methods
Tie-breaks are used in the case of where more than one player has the same VP at the end of the match and there is the need to determine the placings for medals.
It is known that several of the tie-break methods are not ideal for determining the best player in a competition. Problems arise due to the possibility of drawn games meaning that the Swiss movement is often run long which can cause anomolies in the scoring. Tie-breaks should be selected to favour determining first place over the minor medals.
However, often there is not consensus as to which is the most suitable tie-break method when there is limited time, therefore, with limited playing time available some of the tie-break methods used by the MSO may currently not be the optimal method and are not used for splitting Pentamind points or cash prizes for this reason.
Tie-break rules will be listed in order of application. Each tie-break ruie is applied recursively, if this splits the players then no further tie-break is used. Once a tie-break has been applied without splitting the players then the next tie-break rule is used and any previous tie-break rule is not applied again unless stated.
Play-off
The players play each other with the reverse colours from their match in the tournament (or random draw) If this leads to further tie. The play-off is repeated with reducing time periods for up to 3 rounds in total, alternating colours.
Lowest Board Count
In a Swiss movement each round is ordered so that the strongest players play on the lower board number. Sum the board on which each player played exluding the first round.
| Player ID | VP | Boards (rds 2-5) | Board Count | Rank after tie-break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 | 5 | 4th |
| 2 | 0.5 | 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 | 16 | 8th |
| 3 | 4 | 4 + 3 + 3 + 1 | 11 | Bronze |
| 4 | 4 | 2 + 1 + 1 + 3 | 7 | Silver |
| 5 | 1.5 | 2 + 3 + 4 + 2 | 11 | 6th |
| 6 | 2.5 | 3 + 2 + 2 + 4 | 11 | 5th |
| 7 | 0.5 | 3 + 4 + 3 + 3 | 13 | 7th |
| 8 | 4 | 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 | 6 | Gold |
Count Back
The last rounds score is removed until one of the players is ahead of the other on VP
| Player ID | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | VP (rd5) | VP (rd4) | VP (rd3) | VP (rd2) | VP (rd1) | Rank after tie-break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4th | ||
| 2 | 0 | x | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 7= | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | x | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Gold | ||
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | 0.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 6th | ||
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | x | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 5th | ||
| 7 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 7= | ||
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Silver |
Sum of Opponent's Scores
Add the VP of every player played against.
| Player ID | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | VP | SOS | Rank after tie-break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 4th | ||
| 2 | 0 | x | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 11.5 | 8th | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | x | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9.5 | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | Gold | ||
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | 0.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 15 | 6th | ||
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | x | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | 9.5 | 5th | ||
| 7 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 0 | 0.5 | 15 | 7th | ||
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | x | 4 | 11.5 | Silver |
Sum of progressive scores
Add the VP of each round.
| Player ID | VP (rd1) | VP (rd2) | VP (rd3) | VP (rd4) | VP (rd5) | SOP | Rank after tie-break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 4th |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 7= |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | Bronze |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | Gold |
| 5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 6th |
| 6 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 7.5 | 5th |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 7= |
| 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 | Silver |
Sonneborn-Berger (Neudstaadl)
For each player that is tied or beaten add that opponent's total VP
| Player ID | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | VP | Neustaadl | Rank after tie-break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4th | ||
| 2 | 0 | x | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 7= | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | x | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6.5 | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | Gold | ||
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | 0.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 3 | 6th | ||
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | x | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 5th | ||
| 7 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 7= | ||
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | x | 4 | 7.5 | Silver |
Buchholz
Each opponent's VP score is multiplied by the VP scored against that player in their match.
| Player ID | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | VP | Buchholz | Rank after tie-break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4th | ||
| 2 | 0 | x | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 7= | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | x | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6.5 | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | Gold | ||
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | 0.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.75 | 6th | ||
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | x | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | 1.75 | 5th | ||
| 7 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 0 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 7= | ||
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | x | 4 | 7.5 | Silver |
Median Buchholz (M-Buch)
Somewhat misnamed. The highest and lowest scores are removed before calculating the Buchholz score
| Player ID | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | VP | Buchholz | Rank after tie-break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4th | ||
| 2 | 0 | x | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 7= | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | x | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6.5 | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | Gold | ||
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | 0.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.75 | 5= | ||
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | x | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | 1.75 | 5= | ||
| 7 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 0 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 7= | ||
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | x | 4 | 7.5 | Silver |
Points Difference
Some games the points difference is considered to be significant and can form a tie-break where the player with highest net points differences is adjudged the winner.
Random event
If it is impossible to split the players, the prizes will be shared. In some circumstances, it will not possible to split a position in which case a random event such as rolling dice (highest progresses) or coin toss is used to determine the higher placed player with resplect to qualification for the final table or who takes the physical award home if only one is available and no agreement between the players.
Most wins
In some multiplayer games the most first place finishes is regarded as the higher of two players with an identical score.Won game over bye
Should a player have withdrawn or been disqualified if a player had beaten the player before the player became a bye then this can be considered a superior result.
Result between tied players
All players currently tied as the position are put together to form a mini-victory point table. This then can be used iteratively to find the best player,
Tie-break example
Tie-break 1: Resuklt between tied players
2: Points difference
Scenario 1
First the VP are used to determine which players are tied, in this example there are players A, B & C.
This will then first produce a group of players on given VPs. Then the procedure is repeated to see if a further split can be discarded.
If 3 players score as follows:
- A beats B
- B beats C
- C beats A
All 3 players tie-break the same and results between opponents should not be used again unless explicitly stated. For example:
- A scored a total of 414 points
- C scored a total of 414 points
- B scored a total of 417 points
Then the first tie-break cannot split the players. The second tie-break gives: 1st B, 2= A & C
However, the first tie-break cannot be called again for C -> 2nd and A -> 3rd without being explicitly stated. SO this remains equal second
Scenario 2
5 players (A, B, C, D & E) all have the same points
- A beat B
- A beat C
- A beat D
- A lost to E
- B beat C
- B beat D
- B beat E
- C beat D
- C draws with E
- D beat E
Giving the following mini-table:
| Player ID | A | B | C | D | E | VP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| B | 0 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| C | 0 | 0 | x | 1 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| D | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 1 | 1 |
| E | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | x | 1.5 |
Now this places (A & B) together and (C & E)
The next step is to repeat the result between opponents for the smaller groups:
A beat B so A finishes ahead of B. Therefore, A wins Gold and B gets Silver
C drew with E, so C & E are still not split.
If the points were:
- C = 42
- D = 45
- E = 41
D has the best points but the result between opponents still stands, as D was clearly removed from contention by the first tie-break. This means that C would win the bronze medal with the better points.