[tournament-org] WhereIsTheBar

[Alison Bexfield]

I am replying having seen a number of other replies so referencing some 
of them.
I would set the bar at one Dan or possibly one kyu.  You want the five 
Dan to play the strongest people present which means the one dans and 
probably a one kyu.
There is an outside chance the five Dan will not win all their games so 
there must be some open even games at the top. We do not know whether 
the five Dan is a genunine  five Dan. Could be a different rating scale 
if foreign nationality or could be returnee after a break and very 
rusty. In my tournament career I have lost on evens to someone four 
grades weaker and also beaten someone four grades stronger (a five Dan). 
It can happen.
As a one Dan I have no problem playing a five Dan on evens. I relish the 
opportunity knowing I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I 
generally would be upset to turn up and find what was advertised as one 
thing had turned into a handicap event without any notice of it.
If there was s difference of say eight grades between top player and 
next ranking player it would be a courtesy for the organisers to let the 
top player know in advance.

---
Alison Bexfield

On 01/10/2018 11:45, Geoff Kaniuk via tournament-org wrote:
> You have just registered your last player who happens to be 1d and
> people are waiting impatiently,  wanting to get on with your 3 round
> McMahon tournament.
> 
> You are now faced with with the problem of where to set the the bar.
> Suppose in this tournament the top players are:
> 
> 5d 1d 1d 1k 1k 2k 2k 3k 3k 4k 4k 5k .....
> 
> Assuming all players enter at a realistic grade, where would you set 
> the bar?
> 
> It would be interesting to see your instinctive answer, rather than
> consulting the Tournament Organiser's Handbook.