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What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?

Posted By: sebalotek
Date: Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 3:08 p.m.

In Response To: What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins? (David Levy)

DL >> Why do you need to break the tie?

We sometimes need to use tie-breaks because sometimes players end up on the same number of points for the season. We need to decide divisional end of season standings in order to process promotions and relegations.

DL >> It changes strategy if you incent players to do anything but win each match.

I don't think there is much distortion of matchplay strategy at all. Even in matches where the match score is not relevant, general backgammon strategy is to maximize one's own points gained whilst minimizing one's opponent's points gained. There is a definite skill to this.

Also match scores are truncated to 11 points anyway, so there has been no silly bumping the cube up to 32 or 64. I don't even think we have had a 16 cube in play, with over 100 x 11 point matches completed.

Looking at the previous season's results, where two players were tied on points (from my local knowledge of each player's strengths and weaknesses), I think the greater *score difference* quite accurately reflects the better player over the season.

Even though there is a notable degree of luck and variance in backgammon match outcomes, I don't think this is a coincidence. I am hoping that as more data is gathered over seasons, this simple cumulative score difference tie-breaker will prove to be mostly fit for purpose.

Messages In This Thread

• What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
  sebalotek -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 9:53 a.m.
  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
    Casper Van der Tak -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 12:04 p.m.
    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
      sebalotek -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 1:06 p.m.
      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
        Casper Van der Tak -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 1:53 p.m.
  • The possibility of a tie is why I don't care for round robins
    Ken Larsen -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 12:17 p.m.
    • The possibility of a tie is why I don't care for round robins
      sebalotek -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 1:29 p.m.
      • The possibility of a tie is why I don't care for round robins
        Timothy Chow -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 3:10 p.m.
        • The possibility of a tie is why I don't care for round robins
          sebalotek -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 3:54 p.m.
  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
    David Levy -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 1:57 p.m.
    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
      Casper Van der Tak -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 2:29 p.m.
      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
        sebalotek -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 3:28 p.m.
        • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
          neilkaz -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 4:03 p.m.
    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
      sebalotek -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 3:08 p.m.
      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
        David Levy -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 4:33 p.m.
        • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
          sebalotek -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 6:52 p.m.
  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
    neilkaz -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 2:52 p.m.
    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins? +1
      Bill Riles -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 8:02 p.m.
  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
    Rick Janowski -- Thursday, 22 September 2016, at 9:50 p.m.
    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
      sebalotek -- Friday, 23 September 2016, at 5:38 a.m.
  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
    Colin Owen -- Friday, 23 September 2016, at 12:55 a.m.
    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
      sebalotek -- Friday, 23 September 2016, at 5:54 a.m.
      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
        Casper Van der Tak -- Friday, 23 September 2016, at 7:32 a.m.
        • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
          sebalotek -- Friday, 23 September 2016, at 8:13 a.m.
          • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
            Rick Janowski -- Friday, 23 September 2016, at 8:56 a.m.
            • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
              sebalotek -- Friday, 30 September 2016, at 7:21 a.m.
              • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                Jakob Garal -- Saturday, 1 October 2016, at 9:03 p.m.
                • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                  Bob Koca -- Saturday, 1 October 2016, at 11:33 p.m.
                  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                    Jakob Garal -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 8:36 a.m.
                    • Garalgammon
                      Rick Janowski -- Monday, 3 October 2016, at 6:48 a.m.
                      • Garalgammon
                        Jakob Garal -- Monday, 3 October 2016, at 9:52 p.m.
                        • Garalgammon
                          Rick Janowski -- Tuesday, 4 October 2016, at 5:21 a.m.
                          • Garalgammon
                            Jakob Garal -- Tuesday, 4 October 2016, at 1:16 p.m.
                            • Garalgammon
                              Casper Van der Tak -- Tuesday, 4 October 2016, at 2:10 p.m.
                              • Garalgammon
                                Jakob Garal -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 12:03 a.m.
                                • Garalgammon
                                  Casper Van der Tak -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 8:34 a.m.
                                  • Garalgammon
                                    Jakob Garal -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 9:40 a.m.
                            • Garalgammon
                              Dmitriy Obukhov -- Tuesday, 4 October 2016, at 3:21 p.m.
                              • Garalgammon
                                Jakob Garal -- Tuesday, 4 October 2016, at 11:30 p.m.
                                • Garalgammon
                                  Dmitriy Obukhov -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 5:15 p.m.
                                  • Garalgammon
                                    Jakob Garal -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 5:47 p.m.
                                    • Garalgammon
                                      Dmitriy Obukhov -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 7:57 p.m.
                                      • Honest_Answer_at_least
                                        Jakob Garal -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 11:09 p.m.
                                        • Honest_Answer_at_least
                                          Rick Janowski -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 11:32 p.m.
                                          • Honest_Answer_at_least_OK?
                                            Jakob Garal -- Thursday, 6 October 2016, at 8:34 a.m.
                                        • Honest_Answer_at_least
                                          Dmitriy Obukhov -- Thursday, 6 October 2016, at 2:20 a.m.
                            • Crawford Rule History
                              Rick Janowski -- Tuesday, 4 October 2016, at 3:24 p.m.
                              • Crawford Rule History
                                Jakob Garal -- Tuesday, 4 October 2016, at 11:21 p.m.
                • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                  Dmitriy Obukhov -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 3:49 a.m.
                  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                    Jakob Garal -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 8:23 a.m.
                    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                      Dmitriy Obukhov -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 6:16 p.m.
                      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                        Jakob Garal -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 7:47 p.m.
                        • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                          Dmitriy Obukhov -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 9:37 p.m.
              • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                Colin Owen -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 2:05 p.m.
                • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                  Casper Van der Tak -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 2:25 p.m.
                  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                    Bob Koca -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 9:29 p.m.
                    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                      sebalotek -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 9:52 p.m.
                      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                        Bob Koca -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 10:24 p.m.
                        • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                          sebalotek -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 11:42 p.m.
                • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                  sebalotek -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 9:37 p.m.
                  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                    Bob Koca -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 10:28 p.m.
                    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                      sebalotek -- Monday, 3 October 2016, at 8:55 a.m.
                  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                    Neil Robins -- Tuesday, 4 October 2016, at 8:31 p.m.
                    • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                      sebalotek -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 6:10 p.m.
                      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                        Colin Owen -- Wednesday, 5 October 2016, at 7:15 p.m.
                        • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                          sebalotek -- Thursday, 6 October 2016, at 9:15 a.m.
              • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
                Rick Janowski -- Sunday, 2 October 2016, at 3:38 p.m.
      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
        Sean Garber -- Saturday, 24 September 2016, at 4:02 a.m.
        • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
          Sean Garber -- Saturday, 24 September 2016, at 4:07 a.m.
      • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
        Jakob Garal -- Thursday, 29 September 2016, at 4:59 p.m.
  • Why football type score tie-breaks are undesireable
    Rick Janowski -- Friday, 23 September 2016, at 3:36 p.m.
  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
    Neil Robins -- Monday, 26 September 2016, at 8:53 p.m.
  • What is the best (fairest and most efficient) way to tie-break 4 player round robins?
    Phil Simborg -- Friday, 30 September 2016, at 7:23 p.m.