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From: jj@rabbit.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.chess
Subject: Ways to run a ladder
Message-ID: <2413@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Jan-84 11:17:35 EST
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2413
Posted: Fri Jan 20 11:17:35 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Jan-84 07:07:41 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 45


I don't know anything about how chess ladders are run.  I do have some idea
of how Tennis and Table Tennis ladders are run, at least in some places.
I'll describe them below, take what you like.

Definitions:
	Challenge:  The offer of a game by a person lower on the ladder
(The challenger) to one higher on the ladder (the challenged)

1)  Initial configuration:  Everyone is in last place.  Anyone who
has not played and completed a game is in last place.
2)  The first person who wins a game is first, the second person
to win is second, etc.   The losers go at the end of the list
of people who have played games.
<If some challenges are played before everyone has played one
game, the player initially placed by the first win is used to 
index where the new players go.(In other words, if that person
was successfully challenged, the challenger will be above that 
person, and the new entries on the ladder.)  The loser of a first game 
always goes at the bottom of the list of those who have played games.>
	(There is thus incentive to be prompt about games)
3) When any challenge occurs,  the winner, if below the loser, is moved
to directly above the loser.  The loser doesn't move, except to be
displaced one step by the winner.  All people below the loser are
also displaced one step.  If the lower ranked player looses, neither
player moves.
4)  Any player in the bottom half of the ladder may challenge any other
player in the bottom half of the ladder. <Needless to say, it's not
very sensible to challenge someone below you.>
Any player may challenge anyone (except for the top 10% of the ladder) who is
ranked less than or equal to 20% of the ladder above them.
The people in the top 20% may challenge the 10% ahead of them.
5) Any player who is not currently involved in 'N' games (usually
one, in sports, but maybe more in chess) must accept any challenge,
except that no one must accept a repeat challenge from another
until the other person (the challenger) has played 'M' games. 
(Usually two, in sports.  ??? for chess.)
6) Failure to accept a challenge is equivelent to a loss.

I think I've got all the rules down, but this IS from memory.
Hope this helps.
-- 
TEDDY BEARS ARE PEOPLE, TOO!

(allegra,harpo,ulysses)!rabbit!jj