Monthly tournaments
Qualifying round
The qualifying round consists of 5 matches to 5 points each.
With fewer than 50 players, the top 8 players go through to the final round and the next 16 players go into the Consolation.
With 50 or more players, the top 16 players go through to the final round and the next 16 players go into the Consolation.
Ties on wins are decided by drawing lots (or rolling dice). If more players have at least 4 wins than there are places in the final round, additional 1-point matches may be scheduled.
Final round (Main)
The Main final is played to 9 points, all other Main matches to 7 points. Players knocked out of the Main do not go into the Consolation. Prizes are awarded for the top 4 places in the Main.
Consolation
The Consolation final is played to 7 points, all other Consolation matches to 5 points. Prizes are awarded for the top two places in the Consolation.
Clocks and rules
The tournament management may decide to use clocks for individual matches. The time setting is 12 seconds per move plus 2 minutes per point. Clocks are usually not used for beginners.
Play follows the tournament rules of the European Backgammon Federation (EUBGF).
Hamburg Backgammon ranking
The tournaments meet the ranking criteria of the German Backgammon Federation (DBGV). Every player receives points for the Hamburg Backgammon ranking for each tournament they take part in. The ranking is published online. Anyone who does not want to be published by name can tell the tournament management. From 2022, publication in the German ranking is only intended for federation members. How this will work in practice is still being clarified.
For the Hamburg Backgammon ranking, every player receives points for each match won in line with the match length (this also applies to one-point matches). In addition, every player receives 10 points per participation. Since the 2016 season, the worst result or a non-participation is dropped in the final count.
Year-end tournament
The year-end tournament decides the Hamburg Backgammon Champion. Placings in the Hamburg ranking determine possible byes.
Example with 40 participants:
- Ranks 1 – 24:
- Start in the round of the last 32
- Everyone else:
- Start in the round of the last 64
Example with 48 participants:
- Ranks 1 – 16:
- Start in the round of the last 32
- Everyone else:
- Start in the round of the last 64
Example with 56 participants:
- Ranks 1 – 8:
- Start in the round of the last 32
- Everyone else:
- Start in the round of the last 64
Main draw
A knockout system is played. The first rounds are played to 9 points each, the semi-final to 11 points and the final to 13 points.
Consolation
Every loser in the main draw before the semi-final enters the (dynamic) consolation, if the tournament schedule allows. It is played to 7 points, the final to 9 points. There is no way back from the consolation into the main draw, so anyone who wants to become Hamburg Champion must not lose a match.
Last Chance
Every loser in the consolation before the final enters the Last Chance, if the tournament schedule allows. All Last Chance rounds are played to 5 points.
Prizes
Prizes go to the top 4 players of the main draw, the finalists of the consolation and the winner of the Last Chance.
The winner of the main draw becomes Hamburg Backgammon Champion.