DinkFair organizer guide
Odd-Player Byes Without Guesswork
Calculate unavoidable byes and avoid sitting the same player twice.
Direct answer: Bye count equals active players minus four times active courts. Rotate the bye toward the players with the fewest prior games, and never give a consecutive bye when an equally fair playing alternative exists.
Calculate capacity first
Five players on one court produce one bye. Nine players on two courts also produce one bye. Nine players on one court produce five byes because only four can play.
Use previous-bye priority
Among players with the same game total, place last round’s bye player into the next round first. This avoids an arbitrary second sit-out.
Report unavoidable repeats
If previous-bye players outnumber available playing spots, a repeated bye is mathematically forced. Name the count and the capacity conflict.
How many byes with 13 players and three courts?
One. Three active courts hold 12 players, leaving one bye.