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How to adjust entry fee in 2^n brackets for first round byes?

Posted By: Taper_Mike
Date: Thursday, 30 August 2012, at 11:29 p.m.

In Response To: How to adjust entry fee in 2^n brackets for first round byes? (Daniel Murphy)

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The following is part of a post I wrote in July 2011:

Ever since I read Danny Kleinman’s rant about byes in one of his early works (Vision?), I have strongly opposed the current system. It is pathetic to hear tournament directors vaguely assert that “in the long run” it will all balance out. Wasn’t it Keynes who quipped, “In the long run, we’ll all be dead!”

Nobody who plays backgammon seriously is naive enough to expect that if you flip a coin a hundred times, the long run will arrive. More often than not, you’ll get a 55/45 ratio between heads and tails with only 100 tosses. So, Mr. Tournament Director, how many hundred tournaments must I enter before the long run will finally smooth things out? Phew! I will be dead.

And don’t forget, as Kleinman pointed out long ago, receiving a bye doubles your equity in an elimination event!

Danny recommended pricing the byes fairly. I support that (and a few other ideas that reduce variance).

Mike

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