3. Seating for phantom pair in case of odd number of pairs

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Follow this rule of thumb when you have an odd number of pairs and two random rounds for the starting positions:

  • Place the phantom pair as North-South at the top table

There is a good reason for this.

If you have a drop-in Swiss Pairs with one round’s delay where people sign up at the table, it is logical to start filling up the seats from table 1, any many also find it logical to assign North-South a seat first.

This method means that if you have an odd number of pairs, East-West at the top table will be empty when you start the contest. Think about this for a minute or two. Is that such a good idea? What will happen in round 2?

Given that you have a delay, the instructions to the players is that North-South stays and East-West moves to one higher table number. This means that the East-West phantom pair moves to table 1.

North-South at table 1 were the first one at the scene. For this, they get a 50-50 chance of a bye in round 2. That is why the rule of thumb is to be followed:

  • Place the phantom pair as North-South at the top table

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