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BGonline.org Forums
Advanced or Open
Posted By: Bill Finneran In Response To: Advanced or Open (Tad Bright)
Date: Wednesday, 10 June 2009, at 2:16 p.m.
Challange yourself to improve by playing open if its a close decision!!!!
Here is how I decided in 1999 to play open after a 15 year layoff from the game as an intermediate in the late 70s/early 80s. My elo on first FIBS and then Games Grid was averaging in the low 1800s (ranging from 1700 - 1920 or so) over 1995-early 1999, not great by any means but very solid. I figured I could play intermediate and win 60% +/- of my matches or I could play open and win 55% +/- of my matches. By my calculations, the $ equity was about equal in the two options, just had to pay more in enter the open. However, the emotional benefit from doing well in open is much greater when you have a good tournament. Over 10 years and ~25 ABT event, one Monte Carlo, one Nordic Open. My original estimate was about right (I do keep records so I know my w/l percents)
This is my arguement against the folks who delibrately sandbag in a lower division with the statement that "I have never won, so why should I move up". If know for sure that your better then 80-90% of the players in your division, you should move up. Your going to feel much better if you win and your equity is about same. Why because your probably better that many but not most of the players in the next division up as well. It will make you a better player as well.
Yeah, I have had some real stinker tourneys (3 or 4 out of the 25 or so). I also had 3 great results in ten years and many others with positive equity. I come nowwhere close to doing well enough to cover travel expenses long term but BG travel is cheaper then the typical golf trip I go on. I never ever cover my expenses playing golf but then again I dont bet more then $5 during a round either.
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