Masterpoints
Encyclopedia
Masterpoints or master points are points awarded by national and other bridge organisations for success in bridge
tournaments run under their auspices. Organisations which issue these points include the American Contract Bridge League
(ACBL), the American Bridge Association
, the English Bridge Union
(EBU), and the Deutsche Bridge Verband (DBV). The World Bridge Federation
(WBF) also awards masterpoints. In general, each of these schemes is separate. Some organisations award more than one type of points, depending on the type of tournament. Ranks (e.g. "National Master") are awarded, generally depending on the number (and type) of master points accumulated by the player over his or her lifetime. The points and rankings generally have no monetary value, but have a high prestige value for some players. In some cases the master points are an important means of raising revenue for the bridge organisation, which charges for each master point issued. Also, sometimes more "valuable" master points are awarded for tournaments with higher entry fees. In the past, master points were issued in the form of paper certificates, which gave the player a tangible record of his or her achievement, but these are now increasingly replaced by electronic recording.
Some events have an upper masterpoint limit, meaning that only players with a masterpoint holding under the limit may participate. This allows less experienced players more of a chance to place high, since they will not be playing against players who are significantly more experienced. Additionally, some events are stratified. This means that players with various masterpoint holdings play together, but in the final standings, players receive masterpoints based on their position within their stratum. For example, if you are first in stratum C, second in B and fourth in A, and the upper masterpoint limits are 300 for C, 500 for B and 1000 for A, that means that among players with fewer than 300 masterpoints, you did the best. Among players with 500 points or fewer, you did second best, and among players with fewer than 1000, you did fourth best. With those divisions, a player with 700 points would be able to place in stratum A, but not in B or C.
In some countries there are several types of masterpoints, which awarded depending on the type of event.
For example, in the USA the types are as follows:
In many countries, players are assigned ranks according to their masterpoint holding. For example, in the USA the most coveted rank is Life Master, which requires 300 masterpoints, of which 50 must be black, 50 silver, 25 gold, and 25 red or gold. The various ranks are
Masterpoints are partly a measure of skill, but the system is regarded by many players as a measure of experience and longevity rather than skill. Experience is often related to skill, but not necessarily. Over the course of a lifetime, a player can earn many points, just with average play. For example, the same number of masterpoints, and hence the same rank, may have been achieved by Player A over 2 years and by Player B over 20 years.
It is also argued that some wealthy players hire 'professional' players to be their partners and so artificially inflate their masterpoint holdings owing to the greater skills of their 'professional' partner(s).
See WBF Master Point Rules and WBF Master Point Standings
The ACBL awards new ACBL members 10% of their ABA masterpoints (up to a maximum of 200 ACBL black points) and 20% of their WBF masterpoints.
For tournament seeding, the ACBL uses 50% of a person's ABA masterpoints plus their ACBL masterpoints.
For tournament seeding, the ABA uses 200% of a person's ACBL masterpoints (if less than 5,000) plus their ABA masterpoints. If the player has 5,000+ ACBL masterpoints, they are seeded with 10,000 plus their ABA masterpoints.
Duplicate bridge
Duplicate bridge is the most widely used variation of contract bridge in club and tournament play. It is called duplicate because the same bridge deal is played at each table and scoring is based on relative performance...
tournaments run under their auspices. Organisations which issue these points include the American Contract Bridge League
American Contract Bridge League
The American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
(ACBL), the American Bridge Association
American Bridge Association
The American Bridge Association is a bridge organization in North America.The ABA was formed in 1932 by black tennis players at Buckroe Beach, Virginia...
, the English Bridge Union
English Bridge Union
The English Bridge Union or EBU is a player-funded organisation that promotes and organises the card game of duplicate bridge in England. It has an office in Aylesbury with a staff of more than twenty people...
(EBU), and the Deutsche Bridge Verband (DBV). The World Bridge Federation
World Bridge Federation
The World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competition, most of which is conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle...
(WBF) also awards masterpoints. In general, each of these schemes is separate. Some organisations award more than one type of points, depending on the type of tournament. Ranks (e.g. "National Master") are awarded, generally depending on the number (and type) of master points accumulated by the player over his or her lifetime. The points and rankings generally have no monetary value, but have a high prestige value for some players. In some cases the master points are an important means of raising revenue for the bridge organisation, which charges for each master point issued. Also, sometimes more "valuable" master points are awarded for tournaments with higher entry fees. In the past, master points were issued in the form of paper certificates, which gave the player a tangible record of his or her achievement, but these are now increasingly replaced by electronic recording.
Awards of Masterpoints
Players who achieve a high placing in an event sanctioned by the national bridge organisation (a club game, sectional tournament, regional tournament, etc.) are awarded masterpoints according to their placing and the number of pairs, individuals or teams who played in the event.Some events have an upper masterpoint limit, meaning that only players with a masterpoint holding under the limit may participate. This allows less experienced players more of a chance to place high, since they will not be playing against players who are significantly more experienced. Additionally, some events are stratified. This means that players with various masterpoint holdings play together, but in the final standings, players receive masterpoints based on their position within their stratum. For example, if you are first in stratum C, second in B and fourth in A, and the upper masterpoint limits are 300 for C, 500 for B and 1000 for A, that means that among players with fewer than 300 masterpoints, you did the best. Among players with 500 points or fewer, you did second best, and among players with fewer than 1000, you did fourth best. With those divisions, a player with 700 points would be able to place in stratum A, but not in B or C.
In some countries there are several types of masterpoints, which awarded depending on the type of event.
For example, in the USA the types are as follows:
- Unpigmented - awarded in online play.
- Black - awarded in club games.
- Silver - awarded in sectionals, as well as STaCs (Sectional Tournaments at Clubs).
- Red - awarded in regionals (for places other than overall and section tops), as well as North American Open Pairs and Grand National Teams games at clubs.
- Gold - awarded for overall and section tops in regionals, as well as in NABCs (North American Bridge Championships) with an upper masterpoint limit of 750 or more.
- Platinum - awarded in national-rated events with no upper masterpoint limit.
In many countries, players are assigned ranks according to their masterpoint holding. For example, in the USA the most coveted rank is Life Master, which requires 300 masterpoints, of which 50 must be black, 50 silver, 25 gold, and 25 red or gold. The various ranks are
| Title | MPs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rookie | <5 | |
| Junior Master | 5 | |
| Club Master | 20 | |
| Sectional Master | 50 | 5 must be silver |
| Regional Master | 100 | 15 silver, 5 red or gold |
| NABC Master | 200 | 50 pigmented, with at least 5 gold, 15 red or gold and 25 silver |
| Life Master | 300 | 50 silver, 25 gold and 25 red or gold |
| Bronze Life Master | 500 | 50 silver, 25 gold and 25 red or gold |
| Silver Life Master | 1000 | |
| Gold Life Master | 2500 | |
| Diamond Life Master | 5000 | |
| Emerald Life Master | 7500 | |
| Platinum Life Master | 10000 | |
| Grand Life Master | 10000 | and a victory in a NABC+ event or World Bridge Federation event |
| Title | MPs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rookie | <5 | |
| Junior Master | 5 | |
| Club Master | 20 | at least 5 black, no more than 15 from online play |
| Sectional Master | 50 | at least 10 black, 5 silver, no more than 25 from online play |
| Regional Master | 100 | at least 15 black, 15 silver, 5 red or gold/platinum, no more than 40 from online play |
| NABC Master | 200 | at least 20 black, 25 silver, 15 red or gold/platinum, 5 gold/platinum, no more than 70 from online play |
| Advanced NABC Master | 300 | at least 50 black, 50 silver, 25 red or gold/platinum, 25 gold/platinum, no more than 100 from online play |
| Life Master | 500 | at least 75 black, 75 silver, 50 red or gold/platinum, 50 gold/platinum, no more than 165 from online play |
| Silver Life Master | 1000 | no more than 1/3 from online play |
| Gold Life Master | 2500 | no more than 1/3 from online play |
| Diamond Life Master | 5000 | no more than 1/3 from online play |
| Emerald Life Master | 7500 | no more than 1/3 from online play |
| Platinum Life Master | 10000 | no more than 1/3 from online play |
| Grand Life Master | 10000 | and a victory in a NABC+ event or World Bridge Federation event |
Masterpoints are partly a measure of skill, but the system is regarded by many players as a measure of experience and longevity rather than skill. Experience is often related to skill, but not necessarily. Over the course of a lifetime, a player can earn many points, just with average play. For example, the same number of masterpoints, and hence the same rank, may have been achieved by Player A over 2 years and by Player B over 20 years.
It is also argued that some wealthy players hire 'professional' players to be their partners and so artificially inflate their masterpoint holdings owing to the greater skills of their 'professional' partner(s).
World Bridge Federation Master Points
In contrast, the World Bridge Federation system of Master Points annually reduces players' holdings of points older than one year by 15% and uses another classification of points, known as Placing Points, to record players' lifetime accumulation. The WBF also distinguishes between points earned in Open, Women's, Mixed or Senior events and awards its Titles (such as World Grand Master), based upon the accumlation and retention scheme for the particular point classification.See WBF Master Point Rules and WBF Master Point Standings
Comparison of Masterpoints between organizations
It is difficult to compare masterpoints between various organizations as they are not consistent in value.The ACBL awards new ACBL members 10% of their ABA masterpoints (up to a maximum of 200 ACBL black points) and 20% of their WBF masterpoints.
For tournament seeding, the ACBL uses 50% of a person's ABA masterpoints plus their ACBL masterpoints.
For tournament seeding, the ABA uses 200% of a person's ACBL masterpoints (if less than 5,000) plus their ABA masterpoints. If the player has 5,000+ ACBL masterpoints, they are seeded with 10,000 plus their ABA masterpoints.
Other rating systems
- Elo rating systemElo rating systemThe Elo rating system is a method for calculating the relative skill levels of players in two-player games such as chess. It is named after its creator Arpad Elo, a Hungarian-born American physics professor....
- Lehman Rating System