Handicap and levels
The head start in every frame, change points, and how players move between levels.
The handicap (in Hebrew, פור) lets players of different levels play fair matches. It has two parts: a head start in every frame, and levels that move with results.
1. The level ladder
Each organization defines its own ladder: letters from strongest to weakest, each with a points value. For example:
The gap between two players is counted in steps on the ladder. A against D is a gap of 3 levels.
2. The head start
In a match, the weaker player starts every frame with the difference in points. Results are still entered as frames.
| Match | Head start |
|---|---|
| A vs D | D starts every frame 12 points up |
| B vs D | D starts every frame 7 points up |
| C vs C | No head start |
The match shows it as a badge, for example Dana +7: Dana starts every frame 7 points up.
3. Change points
After every approved match, both players earn change points. They are separate from the league table and only decide levels.
| Result | Winner | Loser |
|---|---|---|
| Same level | +0.5 | −0.5 |
| Expected result (the stronger player wins) | +0.25 | −0.25 |
| Upset, gap of 1–2 levels | +1 | −1 |
| Upset, gap of 3 levels | +2 | −2 |
| Upset, gap of 4–6 levels | +3 | −3 |
| Upset, gap of 7 or more | +4 | −4 |
| Draw | 0 | 0 |
4. Moving between levels
- The running total is checked every few matches (the organization decides how often).
- At +5 the player moves up one level. At −5 they move down one level. Never more than one step at a time.
- After a move, the total goes back to 0.
- No move happens before 4 matches since the last change.
A new level applies straight away to the player's unplayed matches, so their head starts are updated. Matches already played keep the head start they were played with.
5. District level and national level
Every player has two levels on the same ladder:
- The district level is used, and changes, in the districts stage.
- The national level is used, and changes, in the play-off and knockout.
Both levels and their totals carry over from season to season.
6. For organizers
- All the values above (the change-points table, the threshold, the minimum matches and how often levels are checked) can be changed under Settings & levels → Level change protocol.
- To set a level by hand, open the player and use Set level manually. A manual change is a new starting point: change points are counted again from there.
- Recalculate all levels replays the whole match history with the current rules. Use it after changing the protocol.
- Each player's page shows their Level history and current change points.