Sandbagging
Many smart people, with good intentions, have tried, in vain, to prevent sandbagging by choosing the “right” statistics, the “right” mathematics and the “right” match-making methods. Inevitably, since that fails, they are forced to apply a band aid in the form of handicap police, skill level limit or some other "fix". The statistics, mathematics and match-making have little or nothing to do with whether or not people sandbag. It’s about the incentives.
It is often stated that a certain handicapping system cannot be sandbagged or it is difficult to sandbag. This is wishful thinking. Any rating/handicapping system that is based on past performance is vulnerable to sandbagging. Any new player can play wrong handed for as long as it takes to have a firmly established rating and then switch to his or her other hand. When you hear someone say a handicapping system is sandbag proof, take it with a grain of salt.
You might have already guessed, I'm working on an idea. Stay tuned. :grin:
Don