I'll be the first to admit I prefer partner's tournaments over the progressive style as it is more about winning games than collecting points. Many tournament use the double elimination format. (The same format that is used in many sporting events such as baseball)The problem with the double elimination tournaments are the byes (free wins), and the waiting in between games. The Grand Prix format solves these problems. It has been used by Joe Andrews during the Grand Prix World Series of Euchre for many years, and now he is sharing it with the rest of the euchre community. It is the best of both worlds, played much like progressive except that you keep your same partner. It eliminates byes (with a couple of exceptions), and guarantees everyone get to play the same number of games instead of only the two games played on a losing day. There also should be little or no waiting between games. Winners are determined by total amount of Games won. (Total points are only used as tie breakers when two teams win the same number of games)
Here's a step by step explanation of how it's done, Start by numbering the tables 1, 2 ect. Also mark the north side of each table. A piece of tape with a large N works fine. Assign each team a number. On a chart list all teams with their numbers. Each team gets a score sheet with their name and team number on it. One person from each team is designated captain and keeps track of score.
Start by seating teams 1 and 2 at table 1, Teams 3 and 4 at table 2. Keep going till all teams are seated. Once teams are seated, play begins. The first dealer is determined by dealing cards face up till a jack appears. First jack deals, and starts the game. Play your first game to TEN as you normally would.
When game is complete, (one team reaches 10), each captain will fill in his score sheet, he then passes his sheet to the captain of the other team. That captain then verifies the score and initials it. Points over ten counts. If you were at nine, and you made a lone you would write 13 as your score (remember scores are the tie breaker). Once all teams have finished, then that round is over.
The east/west teams all moves up one table. The north/south teams all stay at the table and never move. They are stationary the entire tournament. (It makes no difference what team won the match.)Basically what this means is at the end of each round, the east/west team moves from table 1 to table 2. The east/west team from table 2 moves to table three and so on. Everyone plays the same number of games.
Six games (rounds) should take around 3 hours to complete. After using this format for the last year at our weekly group, we have found using a timer set at 25 minutes helps the tournament on schedule. Tournaments must be an even number of games 4,6,8 ect.
As long as there are more than 10 teams playing (four and a half tables) having an odd number of teams is not a problem. Have the odd team sit out the first round. (it's not like getting a bye ,as they do not get a "free win") In the second round, the team that sat out will start playing, by sitting at table 1 in the east/west position. All other east/west teams move up one table. The east/west team from the last full table will now sit out.
Assuming a tournament of six games, there will be 6 teams that only played 5 rounds. (one team from each round) They will need to play a 'catch-up' round. In the example above teams 11 and 10 now play each other, as do teams 8 and 2, and teams 4 and 2. This gives everyone the same total number of games.
If there are only 9 teams playing 6 games then team number 9 will get a bye (along with a win and 10 points). If there are only 7 teams then two teams, numbers 7 and 9 get byes. As most have tournaments have more than 5 tables this almost never comes into play.
See the chart above, Teams 11 + 10, 8 + 6, 4 + 2 all play the "catch up' round, bringing everybody up to 6 games. It works the same with 13, 15, ect. The team numbers will change but there will always be 6 teams that need to play the 'catch up' round.
A master score board such as the one shown allows everyone to see there they stand at any point during the tournament. Also shown are table numbers, not fancy but they work.
add name round-robin each player plays two hands
The progressive tournaments are normally social events, designed to give everyone the same chance to win. Teams may be chosen by a random drawing using numbered chips or any other means you choose. Teams may also be assigned a starting table. (A less formal method is just have everyone sit down at a table of their choosing) All tables should be numbered (ie: 1, 2 ect). Each table should have a table sheet with the table number marked on it. This sheet stays at that table the entire tournament. Each player should also have a score sheet with their name on the top. This allows for a way to check score in case of a discrepancy.
Once teams are seated, play begins. The first dealer is determined by dealing cards face up till a jack appears. First jack deals, and starts the game. At the end of that hand, points are marked on table score sheet. Each block on the sheet needs to be filled in with 1, 2, 4, or X. Deal is then passed to the next person on the left. Each person deals twice for a total of 8 hands. In case of misdeal or everyone passing after 2nd round bidding, the same dealer deals again. At the end of 8 hands, personal score sheets are filled in.
The team that has the highest number of points at the end of eight hands moves up one table (for example from table 2 to table 3) The losing team stays at same table with one player moving over one seat (this may be left up to the players as to who moves or decided by drawing high card) The two winners from the last sit down. If players have played together in an earlier round they should not be allowed to play together again. A set number of games are played, while normally 10, 12, or 16, this can be any number of games preset by tournament director.
At the end of the games scores are totaled and player with most point wins. Charging a quarter for each euchre that goes into a pot and given to the person with the most loners at the end adds to the thrill.
Table score sheets may be downloaded hereThese progressive table sheets eliminate the need for score keepers and provide a way to ensure all scores are accurate.
A Double Elimination Tournament is a test of a team's euchre skill. Team match ups are based solely on the luck of the draw, so playing against someone you don't know is not only a good test of euchre ability, It also involves being able to read your opponents.
To run a Double Elimination Tournament, You need a box with numbers that teams can draw. Poker chip that have been numbered work well. Have enough numbers to cover everyone that may show up. Print out the sign up sheet as well as each one of the bracket sheets you may need. As the teams come in, have them draw one number from the box and write their name on the line that corresponds with number.
Next take the bracket sheet with the correct number of teams and transfer the names to that. (If a number wasn't drawn just skip over it). Number 1 name goes on top line, second on second line and so on till every team is on the bracket sheet.
Winners of each game move forward to the next line, and the losers move down to the losers bracket. If there is only one space in a round, that team gets a 'bye' and moves up the ladder to the next round. In the example below Joe + Jr. lost game 1 and dropped down to Loser bracket1 (L1). Sal + Ted lost game 2 and dropped down to L2. Next round is marked the same way. Jim + Sue lost and drop to L4. Keep going till both sides reach the top of their ladder. If a team is undefeated, the team from the loser's bracket will have to beat them twice.
We offer two styles of bracket sheets. The first are traditional winners play winners and losers play losers. This is the fairest way to play but tournaments take time because the number of 'byes'. Using out modified bracket sheets, all teams play the first round (if even number). No team plays the same team twice accept possibly in the last round.
Printing Directions
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and print these files.
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Once Acrobat has been installed return to this page. Click on Score sheet you'd like to print. After new page loads click on 'File' in the upper left hand corner of the screen then 'print'
