The larger the group the more likely the tournament will take the minimum number of rounds. Conversely groups of two almost automatically go extra rounds.
Groups of two
Max Players : Minimum number of rounds
65 to 100: 7
33 to 64: 6
17 to 32: 5
9 to 16: 4
5 to 8: 3
3 to 4: 2
With a 100% tie break failure, there is a very strong possibility of extra rounds when the group size is two. Two extra rounds is not unusual.
These tournaments with a group size of two had three extra rounds:
Byes in a tournament with groups of two- Added 2012 01 05
The seeding system will grant a bye to the middle player when there is an odd number of players in a round. There is no limit to the number of byes a player can receive. This does not follow the OTB experience.
Infinite Length Tournaments - Added 2012 01 15
We Have Liftoff!
With groups of two, there is a chance of an infinite length tournament.
The Final Countdown had a chance but it was not to be.
The larger the group the more likely the tournament will take the minimum number of rounds. Conversely groups of two almost automatically go extra rounds.
Groups of two
Max Players : Minimum number of rounds
65 to 100 : 7
33 to 64 : 6
17 to 32: 5
9 to 16: 4
5 to 8: 3
3 to 4: 2
With a 100% tie break failure, there is a very strong possibility of extra rounds when the group size is two. Two extra rounds is not unusual.
These tournaments with a group size of two had three extra rounds:
Five rounds to finish a tournament of four players. http://www.chess.com/tournament/awardchess33-match2
Six rounds to finish a tournament of eight players. http://www.chess.com/tournament/5-knock-out
Nine rounds to finish a tournament of 35 players. http://www.chess.com/tournament/good-griefwallyjack-now-youre-trying-to-keep-up-with-the-joneses
These tournaments with a group size of two had four extra rounds:
Ten rounds to finish a tournament of 64 players. http://www.chess.com/tournament/almost-single
Eleven rounds to finish a tournament of 100 players. http://www.chess.com/tournament/lawyers-guns-amp-money-open---single-elimination
Byes in a tournament with groups of two - Added 2012 01 05
The seeding system will grant a bye to the middle player when there is an odd number of players in a round. There is no limit to the number of byes a player can receive. This does not follow the OTB experience.
Infinite Length Tournaments - Added 2012 01 15
We Have Liftoff!
With groups of two, there is a chance of an infinite length tournament.
The Final Countdown had a chance but it was not to be.
http://www.chess.com/tournament/the-final-countdown
Decreasing maximum size after round one
There is a bug that reduces the largest group in a round to the largest in the prior round. http://www.chess.com/tournaments/pairings.html?id=30495&round=3
- The nominal size set by the Tournament Director was six.
- The largest group in round 2 was five.
- Six players advanced to round 3.
There should be a group of six players, instead there are two groups of three players.
Single group starts tournament but there is a round two? - Added 2012 01 10
If there is a single group but the Tournament Director has set multiple advancers, there will be a second round.
There does not appear to be a benefit to this quirk.
- 12(X)->3 http://www.chess.com/tournament/quick-tournament19
In this tournament with twelve players and Avg Rating of 1597 the winner was awarded 258 points.
- 22 games in round 1 and 4 games in round 2
- 258 points / 26 games = 9.9 points per game
According to the points calculator, with format 6(X)->3, the winner would also have received 258 points.
- There would have been 10 games in round 1 and 10 games in round 2
- 258 points / 20 games = 12.9 points per game
- At least in terms of the points reward for the effort it was better to use a normal format.
Other example with varying degrees of more effort for fewer points per game:
11(X)->3: http://www.chess.com/tournament/open-brain-strainers-tournament
10(X)->3: http://www.chess.com/tournament/gmi-fun-tournament-6
10(X)->2: http://www.chess.com/tournament/bandits-premier-leauge
8(X)->3: http://www.chess.com/tournament/very-fast392
8(X)->2: http://www.chess.com/tournament/superfast-4
7(X)->3: http://www.chess.com/tournament/fridaynightcadaz69tactics
6(X)->3: http://www.chess.com/tournament/cochran
6(X)->2 http://www.chess.com/tournament/vemquetem (break even in terms of points per game)
5(X)->2: http://www.chess.com/tournament/penn-college-chess-club-online-tournament
4(X)->2: http://www.chess.com/tournament/403 (break even in terms of points per game)
Mild personal preference: Group size five
Opinion:
- Players can usually separate themselves through their scores. The tie break is rarely needed.
- Choose a Group Size where the participants are comfortable playing both games at the same time against each opponent.
Note: The site provides general tournament information here: http://www.chess.com/tournaments/help.html and here http://support.chess.com/
Return to Introduction
Back to 1 - Days/Move (Tournament Time Control)
Go to 3 - Max Players