Tournament Organizers Guidelines 

The Raw Deal Tournament Software can be downloaded via THIS LINK. 

Reporting results for rankings will be done pretty much the same as it always has, with the following changes:

Tournament Organizers must submit results using the UPDATED Tournament Submission Form (also included in the Tourney Software download above.) 

Tournament results will still be sent to

How to use the Tournament Submission Form:

1) All green fields are to be filled out by the Tournament Organizer. After all green fields have been filled out all the yellow fields will automatically be filled out.

2) Pages should be filled out in this order: Cover Sheet, Player List, & Results. After all green fields have been inputted recheck all information (That includes information in yellow fields as well).

3) If any yellow field has incorrect data check all of your green fields. Yellow fields are dependent upon certain green fields.

4) On the Cover sheet enter your Tournament Details. This is important so we can identify exactly which tournament results are being processed.

5) On Player List, in the first column enter the player names. Use their full name, as this will appear in the final rankings list. Enter the player’s state and RDPC ID number (if known). If the ID number is not known, someone will sort this out.

6) On the Results list, each player appears in the first column. For each round enter their opponent and result. W for a Win. L for a Loss. D for a Draw. Enter nothing in either space for bye. Note that in ELO a Draw is a Draw, not a double Loss and must be recorded as such. Also note that Byes are not counted, as ELO doesn’t count Byes towards rankings.

7) Go back to the Player List page and recheck each player’s win/loss/draw record. It is important that all information given is correct, as it will be entered as is.

8) If the numbers don’t match, you need to check to see where you’ve recorded too many wins/losses/draws in a round.

9) Player’s names on both the Player List and on the Results Pages must be spelled correctly. This is essential to the ELO ranking process.

Raw Deal K Values

Local Events          8K
Premier Events     16K

The K Values represent the maximum number of points you can win / lose in a match.

Reporting Guidelines:

In order for tournaments to be ranked, they must meet the following reporting guidelines:

1) The Tournament must be advertised at least 2 weeks in advance.

2) The Tournament Manager must fill out tournament reports correctly.

3) Tournaments with less than 4 participants will not be counted in the official rankings. (4 & 5 Player events must be run using "Round Robin" pairings with no cut to top 2.)

4) Tournaments must be reported within 2 weeks of tournament date.

5) Player’s full name must be used (first and last). (Players with a "nickname" only will not be ranked!)

6) Do not use ID Numbers to fill out the Results Page. You must use the names indicated on the Player List.

7) Once all Swiss rounds are completed, Single Elimination rounds should be inputted as if they were a new round, until the tournament is concluded.

8) If managers are found to be inputting false tournament results and/or reports immediate action will be taken.

9) Failure to adhere to these rules may cause results to be found invalid and not counted towards the official rankings.

10) Tournament formats (regarding deck construction) must fall under the "Official Tournament Formats" to be counted in the rankings.

11) Tournaments may use the following methods:

A. Swiss with top cut. (# rounds of Swiss style play followed by a single elimination "Top Cut" for finals)
B. Single Elimination (also known as "King of the Ring").

(As this was originally designed and put into play by the previous "Raw Deal Gurus", I must mention a special thanks to Chris Rudram and all his hard work, as well as the great effort of those who went before us.)

Additional info on Running a Tournament:

Wherever possible, the Swiss System is the preferred method in sanctioned tournament play. As well as the "Round Robin" format, any number of the following variants to the Swiss System may be used:

Standard Swiss
Single Elimination (also known as: "King of the Ring")
Double Elimination
Straight Swiss

Standard Swiss is the normal tournament format.  A number of rounds followed by a Top # Cut.  The Top # Cut is single elimination. (See "Swiss Pairings" below.)
Single Elimination expels from the tournament any Player who loses to an opponent for any reason. (The Top # Cut for Standard Swiss uses this method.)
Double Elimination is similar to "Single Elimination" with the exception that it requires two losses for a Player to be eliminated from the tournament.
Straight Swiss is played with enough rounds to have one undefeated player at the end. (A Top # Cut is NOT used for this format.)

# of Players and Rounds - The purpose of the Swiss System is to have one undefeated player at the end of rounds.  This is not always possible, but the following formula must still be followed

8 Players or less - 3 Rounds.  Cut to top 2.

9-16 Players - 4 Rounds.  Cut to top 4.

17-32 Players - 5 Rounds.  Cut to top 8.

33-64 Players - 6 Rounds.  Cut to top 16.

65-128 Players - 7 Rounds.  Cut to top 32.

(Additional Rounds may be needed if the Straight Swiss system is used.)

*note*- For the initial round 1 pairings, the Swiss system is not used, since all players have the same Match Points.  Pairings must be done randomly.

Byes - Odd numbers of participants will generate a random Bye.
*The player receiving the Bye will receive 3 Match Points for a Pinfall victory.  Tiebreakers will not count this Match as being played (although the 3 Points still counts.)

*A player may only be given a random Bye if he: (a) Has not had a random Bye for this tournament, and (b) Has (or is tied for) the lowest Match Points amongst those players eligible to receive a random Bye.*Players may occasionally be awarded Byes through some predetermined method (such as winning a RDPC "Championship" tournament etc.)  Awarded Byes are granted by the RDPC for specific tournaments only.  Awarded Byes follow the same rules as Random Byes, except that the same Player may have more than one in a Tournament, and more than one player may be affected.

Scoring & Match Points - Scoring for tournament matches is as follows:

• 3 Match Points for a Pinfall Victory
• 2 Match Points for a Countout Victory.
• 0 Points for a draw (including a draw based on time limit)
• 0 Points for a Double Countout and/or Double Loss
• Match Disqualification counts as a Pin for the opponent (3 points) and Double Match Disqualification (both players Disqualified) will also count as (0 points) for both players, provided they are allowed to remain in the tournament. 

*Players who are on the same match points must be paired within the same group, or as closely as possible.

*It is possible for players to be paired against someone with more or less Match Points.

*Players may not be paired against each other if they have already played once during Swiss rounds.  (EXCEPTION - If the nature of the tournament requires two players to play an extra Match in order to make the Top # Cut, these players may play regardless of tournament history.  This is not counted as a tournament Match, but it must follow the same rules as a tournament Match.) 

*Tournament officials may choose to avoid pairing players together if they are playing the same Superstar cards, as long as the Swiss pairings would otherwise not be affected. See also the "Diversity Rule."  (EXAMPLE - The only Players with 10 Match Points after 5 rounds are playing Tazz.  As long as they have not played each other yet, they must play each other in the next round.)

*Once the Swiss rounds have been completed, organizers must then calculate the final standings.  Once completed, this information is considered Public Knowledge.

*If the tournament organizers wish to perform a Top # Cut for playoffs, they must determine the players eligible.  This is to be done using the Diversity system. They must then make the original final standings public as well as the revised standings.