Alan Woods Rating System (AWRS)
Overview.....

The ABF has acquired the licence to run the AWRS rating system in Australia.

Under the system, all regular competitors will have a rating that reflects their current standing. This will be an accurate measure because it takes into account both the standing of the partner and that of the opposition.

It is known as the Alan Woods Rating System, in recognition of the contribution from the late Alan Woods. He amassed a $700 million fortune through his horse racing rating system and it was these ideas that inspired the bridge rating system in the first place. Furthermore, he was a great supporter of the idea of the system being used for bridge; according to his wishes, some of his one million dollar OzOne donation is being used to support clubs in the early days of the system.

When the system is fully installed, it will provide an accurate ranking for tournament players all around the country. Indeed, being number one at bridge will have importance in much the same way as number one at golf or tennis. The system will also allow for accurate seeding and stratification of events as well as properly balanced movements.

Of course, masterpoints will remain in place exactly like before.

All clubs can now rate their players using the AWRS  rating system. A rating is an accurate measure of the player’s current standing at bridge. This is so because the system takes into account the strength of the partner and that of the opponents. It also puts more weight on recent games. The system is akin to the international chess rating system.

Ratings are not designed to replace masterpoints. Masterpoints largely reflect how long a player has been playing rather than a player’s current performance and that is quite different from ratings.

Most duplicate players want to know how they went. That is why they go to the trouble of going to the club. The percentage tells the player how his or her partnership went on the day but it does not tell the whole story. What a player really wants to know is how good that result is when you take into account the strength of the partner and the opponents. This is what AWRS  does.

A typical comment on the system:

 “At the end of each session to know not only my outright percentage result but how well I have performed against my rating has added a marvelous new dimension to the game. In the past, I didn’t really know how I was doing.

In the clubs using AWRS  that I have played in, the system has been received with overwhelming enthusiasm. It has created added enjoyment and it has huge intellectual appeal. It should have been thought of years ago.”

John Anderson (Retired Managing Director of Zerox South Africa and Xerox Australia - Rated 62.)