How do you keep points during a season? (1 Viewer)

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

We have a similar points system. Two exceptions:

1. Regardless of field size, first 3 players eliminated all receive 3 points. 4th player eliminated receives 4 and so on.
2. In the money players receive ‘bonus’ points. Depending on field size, we pay anywhere from 3 to 5 spots. Example, if 4 spots pay, bonus points are awarded as:
   • 1st place: 4 bonus points
   • 2nd place: 3 points
   • 3rd place: 2 points
   • 4th place: 1 point

In an 18 player field, 1st place would earn 18 + 4, for a total of 22 points.

For total season points, we drop the lowest score. This helps lower the feeling of being at a disadvantage if you miss a game.

You've got some really good ideas going here. Of the simple formats, I think this one is the best for a couple of reasons. First, the smoothing out of the bottom scores. Scoring the first three to bust out the same amount makes a lot more sense than the 4th player out getting 4 times as many points as the first. This also gives a bit of a participation reward without it being excessive. And then the bonus for in the money finishes adds extra reward for making money bubble. I might even add one more bonus point to the winner because, well, winning...

Good system. I would use this. I'm bookmarking this post.

 

[wickedwonka121]

We use a system that awards points to the top 8 finishers, with extra points to players who cash, as follows:

1st Place: (10 x Number of Buy-Ins) + (1 point for each $ of prize money won)
2nd Place: (8 x Number of Buy-Ins) + (1 point for each $ of prize money won)
3rd Place: (6 x Number of Buy-Ins) + (1 point for each $ of prize money won)
4th Place: (5 x Number of Buy-Ins) + (1 point for each $ of prize money won, if any)
...
8th Place: (1 x Number of Buy-Ins) + (1 point for each $ of prize money won, if any)

I always finish first.

 

[Dodger]

First, the smoothing out of the bottom scores. Scoring the first three to bust out the same amount makes a lot more sense than the 4th player out getting 4 times as many points as the first. This also gives a bit of a participation reward without it being excessive.

Nailed it!

 

[BPTDirector]

Why should you level out the bottom three places? I won a league last year with a last place finish so it does not mean you cannot stay competitive. If you’re last you’re last. No participation medals for the bottom 3, why don’t you just give the top three the same points then? I don’t get what makes that better.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

Why should you level out the bottom three places? I won a league last year with a last place finish so it does not mean you cannot stay competitive. If you’re last you’re last. No participation medals for the bottom 3, why don’t you just give the top three the same points then? I don’t get what makes that better.

I thought I explained my reasoning in several prior posts, but I'll try to do better.

The leveling out of the bottom scores more appropriately reflects how poorly those participants played. The guy who busted out fourth in a two table tournament did not play four times better than the guy who busted out first, and doesn't deserve to get four times as many league points.

Also, this method more simply emulates the more complicated systems that some are using. The director of the league I participate in uses one of these complicated formulae. The folks who bust out early get very similar point awards. Here's the point awards from our tournament we played last week with 14 participants.

Note how there is very little advantage to busting out fourth as compared to first.

Another option to not giving those first three the exact same amount would be to just narrow the spread and start higher than 1. For example, you could grant 2.5, 3, 3.5, & 4 to the first four players out, then proceed to add a full point for each higher ranking place. Again, as you pointed out earlier, in the long run you are probably still going to arrive at about the same place in the end. But to me, this just feels better.

Ultimately, if you are happy with your method, then don't worry about it. Each tournament director is going to do it the way they are most comfortable with and that satisfies their group.

 

[Dodger]

I level out the bottom three for the reasons @TX_Golf_N_Poker mentions. Is there really that much better play between first eliminated and third eliminated in a 2-3 table tourney?

But also, I want to encourage attendance. Coming in last and only earning 1 point is not much compared to the players who did not attend. So, as mentioned, a bit of a participation ‘bonus’ without being overly crazy.

 

[DeeVee8]

Inverted place value (10 person tourney...10 points for 1st, 9 for 2nd, etc) plus total profit divided by 20. People who rebuy less are rewarded.

 

[thePokerClub]

Check out the SeasonStack subforum for more point-format/league structure information.

I have a much simpler non-formula-based approach to tracking points. Here is a good example https://thepokerclub.org/?page_id=3017

 

[MC_CPA]

Points awarded per night is 5 x # of ppl.

Distribute based on percentages below.

Reduce points of everyone by 5 per event (optional if you dont want this).

 

[Nightowl]

One fish two fish red fish blue fish. Just kidding. I keep it simple, one point for each place of survival then added points for 3rd(1), 2nd(2), and 1st(3). So if you have 12 players 1st gets 12 plus 3 or 15 for that tournament, 2nd 11 plus 2, third 10 plus 1, on down.

I like this simple approach. I think i may drop the lowest score at the end of them all to give room for those who cant make a month. Any other rules to help with those that cant make a particular tournament?

 

[Baldeagle9]

I like this simple approach. I think i may drop the lowest score at the end of them all to give room for those who cant make a month. Any other rules to help with those that cant make a particular tournament?

Love it also, KISS: Keep it Simple Stupid

 

[thePokerClub]

I like this simple approach. I think i may drop the lowest score at the end of them all to give room for those who cant make a month. Any other rules to help with those that cant make a particular tournament?

I offer Missed Participation Points. Players can pickup Participation Points they would have gotten had they locked a seat. But, they must pick the points up at the next tournament they attend and play in. After that they expire.

So, as far as the LeaderBoard goes, it is as if they played, but didn't place.

It has worked well over the last few league seasons...keeps guys relevant on the boards even if schedules don't always align.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

I offer Missed Participation Points. Players can pickup Participation Points they would have gotten had they locked a seat. But, they must pick the points up at the next tournament they attend and play in. After that they expire.

So, as far as the LeaderBoard goes, it is as if they played, but didn't place.

It has worked well over the last few league seasons...keeps guys relevant on the boards even if schedules don't always align.

When you say you allow them to pick up the points, I assume there is a cost. Is it a full buy-in, or some contribution to the year-end championship?

 

[thePokerClub]

When you say you allow them to pick up the points, I assume there is a cost. Is it a full buy-in, or some contribution to the year-end championship?

Exactly, it is the cost of what the initial entry was to lock a seat (1 full buy-in). This goes entirely to the year-end championship pool.

 

[ClutchBrady]

Jumping in on this, since I really liked the system we did during college; we couldn't gamble for real money so we played for fun but did a points system and created a championship final table at the end of each semester.

4 hour time limit cash game style - 25K chips to start
4 points for showing up, -2 for rebuying
2 points for high hand, 2 points for any 72 win
We would normally get 20-25 people and give out extra points for who was in profit at the end of the night. You typically couldn't leave until after 2 hours, and most didn't.
So for 25 people, 25x4= 100 bonus points up for grabs, given out based on percentage of total profit, so if you had 25% of the profited chips you'd get about 25 points. Minimum 2 points bonus for ending the night in profit.

some weeks we would do double points, and then every month was a tournament freezeout based on point totals for that month, so chip stack was based on the standings. Double points for that too.

Final nine players make it to final table end of semester for a trophy and the pride. It worked out well! All the bonuses made it fun and you could still miss weeks and make the semester FT, but also showing up every week would net you 48 points, assuming no rebuys. We had FT qualifying totals in the mid 70s, sometimes higher in the 90s in order to make it. The club is still going strong even after I graduated!

 

[thePokerClub]

Quick update for anyone still following this thread - I've made all my SeasonStack tools and templates free and available for direct download via a copy by Google Sheets link.

What's available:

• Payout Matrix - Cash % + LeaderBoard points for 10-18 player fields, pre-calculated
• LeaderBoard Template - Season standings tracker (wins, cashes, bounties, participation)
• Treasury Template - Manage your Winners Pool, Championship Pool, and Trophy Pool
• Structure Sheet Template - The one-pager you send members before each event
• Season Structures Pack - 40+ pointed season formats (time-based, milestone-based, race-to-X, etc.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/seasonstack-free-tools-quick-reference-guide.138446/

@Nightowl - the Missed Participation Points system I mentioned has worked well for 3+ seasons now. Happy to share more details on implementation if you want.

-Chris