Pairs with a Team's Flavour!

On the six Mondays in the year that were provisionally scheduled for Random Teams, we propose to run PAIRs sessions, but using the "Butler Scoring" method. In this scoring method, the score achieved by a pair is compared to an average score and the difference is turned into IMPS.

This is probably best illustrated by an example:

Playing East/West suppose 4 pairs get 620 for 4 hearts and 3 pairs get 170 for 3 hearts plus 1.

A "datum" score for this board is calculated by taking out one highest and one lowest score and averaging the rest.

In this case the datum is 440.

All scores for this board are compared to the datum and turned into IMPS. 4 pairs get +5 IMPS for +180(620 - 440).

3 pairs get -7 IMPS for -270(170 - 440).

The winner is the pair with the highest total IMPS over all the boards played (there are separate North/South and East/West winners).

Fortunately, all this scoring can be done by the Scorebridge package after the event, using the travellers filled in exactly as normal and the results will be issued by Susie as she does for any other pairs night.

The pair will the best 3 results over the 6 nights allocated to this new "Pairs - Butler Scoring" will be awarded the Hudson Salver.

The first night is 23rd July. Full rules will be published by then.

Whether you like pairs or teams, we feel this format has something new and good to offer - we hope as many as possible will come and try it.

Cliff Short

Competitions Secretary.