Fargo Rating System

Mark Avlon

Mark Avlon

Northwest Pool School
Silver Member
I like the Fargo Rating system and have been rating players on the side in a local league to gain some real world experience with it. Eventually, I’d like to use it for tournament or league play.

I’m interested to know how wide spread the use of the Fargo Rating system is, how it’s being used, and how well it’s working for those using it.

•Which games are you tracking player ratings?
•Do you use it for tournaments, leagues, or other play?
•Do you use it to set the race for the match? Do you use it to limit the skill level of the players that can play? Are you using it in another way?
•How many players are in your system?
•Do the players accept the ratings? Do they think they reasonably reflect the player’s skill level? Do they understand the rating system? How did you sell them on the system?
•What problems have you run into using the system?
 
Thanks Scott,

I've read how Mike uses the system, but if like to hear from other tournament directors and league operators that are.using the system.

I'm getting the feeling that it's not being used widely, which is a shame. So another question for the group is why aren't you using the system? Is it because there isn't a tool available to use for calculating the rating updates?
 
Last edited:
Anyone using it?

Is there anyone out there using the Fargo Rating system besides Mike Page?
 
Mark...Since we all know that as 'big' as AzB is, it is still just the tip of the iceberg in the pool world. I'm sure other people are using Mike's rating system (or maybe not), but he could likely give you that info. :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
Mark Avlon said:
Is there anyone out there using the Fargo Rating system besides Mike Page?
Click to expand...
A similar system that has been used for a long time in this area is the NPL system. It is very accurate in player placement after a few seasons.

One problem that did come up is tough to avoid in any handicapped format. If someone plays far below their level on regular league nights and then shifts gears for a big tournament, it's hard to distinguish from a player who simply has a good day. Some NPl players have been bumped up for using such tactics.

The NPL goes for 50-50 in every match and comes pretty close. My understanding is that the Fargo system is designed to give the better player something like a 60-40 advantage but still gives the weaker player some chance to win.

I think the NPL only tracked 9 ball. A similar system is used in multiple rooms around here for 14.1. In either case I think that players feel they are fairly rated if they have been in the system for a while. The hardest part of the LO's job is to rate new players. If you are too far off you either have a frustrated player or angry opponents. In general the LO has to be ready to manually modify each new player's rating.

The systems are used for in-house leagues with a universal rating across all NPL rooms and semi-shared ratings across the rooms that have 14.1 leagues.

The ratings set the handicap in the race. I have seen handicaps as large as 10-2 at nine ball (which the top players really, really don't like) and 140-20 at 14.1. I think the NPL has changed the maximum spot to 7-3 for the typical weekly match.

The ratings of currently active NPL players are available at http://www.sfpool.net/cgi-bin/pool.pl?pChoice=A
and the ratings in one local 14.1 league are here: https://sites.google.com/site/aspa141/current-player-ratings
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top