Category Archives: Blog

This month’s tournament was another relatively quiet affair due to the long weekend. But it gave me a chance to run my new spreadsheet live for its first serious trial.

We had 9 starters, so for the first time I ran a Swiss with a bye which allowed me to play. I got the 1st round bye!

The spreadsheet worked very well right up to the 4th round. It worked very well then but didn’t give the draw required for a clear winner. (It’s amazing that a live event can immediately find issues when running copiously large amounts of trial dummy data didn’t!) The draw it found pitched Paula and myself against other players, which would have meant, if we’d both won, no absolute winner, other than on a countback (That might be an option going forward – thoughts? Please remember though, that a player that draws the bye gets no score other than the win). The same thing happened at the other end of the draw and the last bye. The problem is the small number of options available, given that no player plays the same opponent twice. (See photo.) Back to the drawing board!

With the help of Steve D’s early retirement, I managed to cobble together a fair solution and Paula and I played for the $100 pool ($80/20) and the RACA’s bottles of wine.

3/1 up playing to 7, my experience told me I should double. I think it was after the 4th or 5th roll. Paula took on the basis that it was early. Not wise in this case. 7/1!

Deniz was pipped for 3rd place by a late result from Sherin on a count back. (See Photoshopped photo. Thanks to my wife. Sorry Deniz! )

NB. I am due to have a meeting with the RACA’s management in August. Unless the number of players increase, I fear for the future of this venue; which would be a shame.