Rated tournaments

What does it take for a rated tournament to start? I know that 4 players with similar rating needs to be listed, but what is accepted as "similar rating" by the algoritm? In Hex, there are now 4 of the top 10 players waiting for rated tournament. Granted, David J Bush has more than 200 rating points more than me and Julius, but then again, if he can't play us in rated tournaments, then who can he play against?

Marius

It looks like no tournaments at all are starting at the moment. On the other hand, some tournaments are ending that were hung up because of players who left not being forfeited. I think Richard is doing some work and all will be well soon.

the 4 players must a 200 points max difference. So if Davis has a rating of 2040, three more players or rank 1840+ must join in order for David to play.

Are you sure about that Pandelis? I think players are divided into 200-point groups, and somone who's rated 1801 will never play somone who's rated 1799. But the top players can be placed into the next-highest group if there aren't enough players to even form a top section.

See Rated Tournament 8.8 where there were players from 1618 up to 1818 when started. I also think that the difference maybe sometimes a little more than 200.

Richarad: Is it possible to give an understandable explaination of how this algorithm works?

Marius

Another example is twixt.rt.2003.8.15 which spans a ratings difference of 396 points. I too would be interested in the algorithm...

Levels for rating tournaments have 200 points range:

1400-1599 7. level

1600-1799 8. level

.

etc.

Level exists if there is enough players for it. If does not exists for example level 9. all players with rating more than 1600 are in level 8.

I have some new idea about new form of rating tournaments. I suggest abolish rating tournaments and instead of them, you enter request with parameters: how many do you want play games, max games with the same player, rating range. (Maybe other parameters as allow handicap games or about random position in DVONN, etc.).

For example I want play 20 games, max 2 games with the same rating with range +- 200 points of rating.

One of benefit can be accept blacklist - this is not possible now.

That sounds intriguing. I have some questions:

Would your desired parameters be posted in a waiting room for all to see? Or would the server just show those posted challenges which you qualify to accept?

Row handicap games would be great for Twixt, but how would they be rated? On PBMserv handicap games are not rated, and relatively few such games have been played. There haven't been enough games to determine how many points correspond to how many rows. If you do this, I recommend they be unrated at first, until some sort of data set is built up to justify the rating difference. For example, I might post "play me at whatever handicap you want" and one player might take the lowest handicap, which is move handicap (meaning swap is not used), and another player might take first move plus eight rows. No rating points are at stake. Sorry for the digression about Twixt, but a similar problem might exist for handicaps in other games.

When you're a experienced player and just start playing at littlegolem, with a fresh rating, you will thus be paired against players with similar rating in the rated tournaments. So only weak to moderate players will be the opponents, and I can't play against players with 400 points higher rating, who are more challenging.

Is the only way to play as much tournaments as is needed to get an appropriate rating for playing against good players or can i be paired against good players, while still having a low rating?

In Monthly Cups, you are likely to play some stronger players. They are one type of tournament, Rating Tournaments are another, which are specifiacally designed to allow players to face opposition with similar ratings to themselves.

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