Double-Round Tournaments
Double-round tournaments are events where each round counts for two games: one as white and one as black, played back-to-back. This format ensures equal color distribution in every round.
Terminology: This format is labeled “Dbl” (double-blitz style) in the SwissSys interface because it’s commonly used for blitz events. You may also see it called “double Swiss” or “double-round Swiss.” The format works with any time control - classical, rapid, or blitz.
SwissSys handles these tournaments by displaying each matchup twice in the charts (once for each color).
Setting Up a Double-Round Tournament
When creating your tournament through the Tournament Setup dialog:
- Configure your basic tournament settings (name, rounds, etc.)
- Check the “Dbl” (double-blitz style) checkbox
- Complete the setup and generate first-round pairings
The double-round option can be combined with Swiss, round robin, or team tournament formats.
Entering Results
Double-round tournaments offer two ways to enter results:
Combined Entry Mode (Recommended)
When the Double Entry Mode checkbox is enabled in the pairing chart toolbar, you enter the combined result for both games at once:
| Click | Points | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| First click | 0 | Lost both games (0-2) |
| Second click | ½ | Lost one, drew one (0.5-1.5) |
| Third click | 1 | Drew both OR won one/lost one (1-1) |
| Fourth click | 1½ | Won one, drew one (1.5-0.5) |
| Fifth click | 2 | Won both games (2-0) |
The toolbar result buttons cycle through these values when Double Entry Mode is active.
Quick Entry: In Double Entry Mode, simply click W/L/D buttons repeatedly to cycle through the possible combined scores.
Individual Game Entry
If you prefer to enter each game separately:
- Uncheck the Double Entry Mode checkbox
- Enter results for the first game (round N) using normal W/L/D
- Enter results for the second game (round N+1) separately
This mode is useful when games finish at different times or when you need to track individual game results precisely.
Result Characters in Wall Charts
Double-round tournaments use special characters in wall charts to show combined results:
| Character | Meaning |
|---|---|
| $ | Won both games (2 points) |
| # | Won one, drew one (1.5 points) |
| % | Drew both games OR won one/lost one (1 point each) |
| W/L/D | Standard result (when entered individually) |
The special characters ($, #, %) only appear when using Combined Entry Mode. Individual entry uses standard W/L/D notation.
Scoring
Results are scored out of 2 points per round:
- Win both games: 2 points
- Win one, draw one: 1.5 points
- Draw both OR win one/lose one: 1 point each player
- Lose one, draw one: 0.5 points
- Lose both games: 0 points
Round Robin Options
For double-round round robins, you’ll be prompted to choose how games are scheduled:
- Back-to-back games: Players play both games against each opponent immediately (traditional format)
- Play everyone twice: Players complete a full round robin, then play everyone again with reversed colors
Player Limit: Double-round round robins are limited to 10 players maximum. Regular round robins support up to 20 players.
Divided Entry for Round Robins
When you select “play everyone twice” for a round robin, the Divided Blitz RR mode is enabled. This allows entering each game result individually, which is useful when games are played at different times.
Bye Handling
Bye values are doubled in double-round tournaments:
| Normal Bye Value | Double-Round Value |
|---|---|
| Full-point bye | 2 points |
| Half-point bye | 1 point |
| Zero-point bye | 0 points |
Advance Byes: Set advance byes through the Register dialog or during player entry. The bye value is automatically doubled when applied.
Late Registrant Byes
When assigning byes to late registrants (players entering after round 1), the current options are limited to:
- 0 points per round
- ½ point per round (equivalent to 1 point in combined scoring)
Fixed-Roster Team Tournaments
Double-round format works with fixed-roster team tournaments with some considerations:
- The Double Entry Mode checkbox is not available for fixed-roster events
- Enter results individually for each game/round
- Team pairings are duplicated automatically for the reverse-color game
Best Practices
- Use Combined Entry Mode for faster result entry during live events
- Verify round count: A 5-round double-round tournament will show 10 rounds in the pairing chart (2 per matchup)
- Check both rounds: When reviewing results, remember each pairing spans two consecutive rounds
- Wall chart display: The wall chart shows both games; use the game highlight feature to visually identify unrated games if needed