N.M.I.M.T. Billy Aardd's Club
Handicapped Straight Ladder
-- Rules and Regulations

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. 14.1 Continuous Ladder Specifics
3. Handicaps
4. Challenge Matches

Except as noted (or contradicted) below, the General Ladder Rules and Regulations will apply to this ladder.

The handicapping for this ladder is based on the number of points a player scores per inning (over his last five games).   Stroke by stroke score keeping will be used to get these numbers and allow some statistics about the matches and player's performance.

1. Straight rules are in the magazine rack by the attendant's counter. They, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards, and the Tournament Rules and Regulations, will apply except where indicated otherwise.

2. Each match consists of one game of straight pool. The first player to reach 50 points and then execute a legal (non-foul) shot wins the match.

3. Each match will be 100% handicapped (see Handicaps for details).

4. In matters pertaining to the Ladder (argument of fouls, clarification of rules, etc.), the Ladder Director's (LD) decision will be final.

1. Handicaps for the matches are calculated from a player's LBPI (Ladder Balls per Inning).   This represents the number of points a player scores each time he steps up to the table.
   

   LBPI = (Points Scored + Major Foul Pts.) / Number of Innings

2. Only the player's last 5 matches are used to calculate an LBPI.   That is: (All points scored in last 5 matches + All Major Foul Points in last 5 matches) divided by (Total innings over the last 5 matches).

3. A player's LBPI for a round is good for the entire round, even if the player plays more than one match.   The LBPI will not be recalculated in the middle of a round.

4. The minimum playable LBPI is 0.400 for Regular matches.   If a player has an LBPI less than 0.400 for a round, his spot will be calculated using 0.400 for all Regular matches.   In a challenge match either players' LBPI may be below the minimum, (see below).

5. The Regular match handicap is calculated by the LD for each round of play.   In each match one player will have a higher LBPI than the other.   This better player is handicapped by having to pocket more balls than his/her opponent to win.   The better player will start the game with a score of   - Handicap.

6. Handicap = ceiling [( 50 X High LBPI / Low LBPI ) - 50]

7. The maximum allowed handicap for any match is 200 balls.   If a match is calculated to have a larger handicap, it will be reduced to 200.

1. If a challenge match is arranged and then can not be played it will be ignored (as if it was never arranged).   Challenge matches will never become an IMMEDIATE forfeit.   Though after play has started they can be become an INPLAY forfeit.

2. Challenge positions, used in challenge matches, are earned when a player shoots at least ten percent over his LBPI for the round and wins his scheduled (regular or odd) match (challenge positions can not be earned from the play of a challenge match).   Each ten percent shot over a player's rated LBPI will earn him one challenge position in the next round.

   As an example, if Ed shoots 1.57% of his rated LBPI in a round then in the next round he will be awarded five challenge positions.

3. The challenge handicap depends on the number of positions challenged and will decrease the LBPI of the challenged player to a fraction of normal for the challenge match.   The fraction is 0.90 for 1 position, 0.85 for 2 positions, 0.80 for 3, etc.   The minimum allowable fraction is 0.05 (18 positions).   The challenge handicap is generated by the players of the match.   The LBPI of the challenged player is multiplied by the fraction and then a modified handicap is calculated using the handicap formula above.

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URL: http://www.nmt.edu/~billiard/public_html/ladder/ladderregs.html