Fun Time Bunch Singles

The Ranking System!
MyLeague has one of the simplest ranking systems ever used for competitive play. The concept was adopted from the ranking system used on the official Case’s Ladders. We call it a "Ladder" because each member holds a unique rank or "rung" that represents their standing among other members. The highest-ranked member holds the #1 Ladder position; for example, someone ranked #2 is ranked below the #1 member. The goal is to "climb" the Ladder all the way to the top!

When you first join, you are placed in an “Unranked” category on the League.
You become "Ranked" after winning your first League match. (Unranked members may play each other, and the winner becomes ranked at the bottom of the League.)
When you defeat a higher-ranked member, you move up in rank 50% the distance between their rank and your own.
- Example: If you are ranked #50 and you beat the #1 ranked member, then your new rank would be 25.
Your rank on the League does not go down if you lose a match unless your opponent is ranked DIRECTLY below you.
- Example: If you are ranked #5 and the #6 ranked member defeats you, then your new rank would be #6.

When members ranked below you are victorious against members ranked above you, it's possible the member will jump over you in rank and you will move down one rung. This depends on the ranks involved.
- Example(per 50% rank gain) :You are currently ranked #7. If the #10 ranked member defeats the #1 ranked member, then #10 will advance to the #5 rung and you will fall to the #8 rung.

Account Rules

League Names
- If your League name is deemed offensive or contains profanity, your account may be removed.
- If your League name is deemed abusive towards another member, your account may be removed.
- You can edit your League name by using the ‘My Account’ tab and choosing the ‘Edit Username’ option. If you have problems changing your League name, please use the ‘Contact Admin’ link, located on the 'Support' tab.
E-mail Address
- Your E-mail address must be kept current at all times, in case you need to be contacted. You can use the 'Edit E-mail Address' link on the 'My Account' tab to edit your E-mail address.
Password Security
- You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password.
- You are not permitted to share your password with anyone for any reason.
Inactivity
- In order to keep the League as dynamic as possible, your account will be automatically deleted if you are inactive for 45 days. However, one of the features of our Premium Membership Program is never being deleted for inactivity. Information regarding our Premium Membership Program can be found here .
Multiple Accounts
- Only one account is allowed per person. There are no exceptions to this rule.
- It is forbidden for more than one person to use or share the same account.
- Multiple accounts from the same location will be investigated and possibly removed.

Challenges

Chat
- The best way to find League matches is to announce in chat that you are looking for a League match so that other members will know you are interested in League-play. You can also directly challenge a specific member in chat.
Formal Challenges
- Most Leagues permit the use of Formal Challenges. A complete overview of the Formal Challenge system can be found here .
10 time(s) Per Day
- You may play the same member 10 time(s) per day. However, you may play as many different members as you would like on any given day. A “MyLeague” day begins at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
Verify Information
- We recommend you ensure a potential opponent is also a member of the League before starting your match. You can do this very easily by searching for your opponent using the 'Search for Players' tool.

Playing a Match

Opponents
- You are not allowed to report losses to another member that also plays from the same computer as you. Our security software will detect this activity if it is attempted, and participating accounts may be penalized or removed.
Sportsmanship
- The same rules that apply to behavior in chat (covered in a later section) also apply during matches.

Reporting the Match

Reporting the Loss
- In one-on-one matches, the loser of the match reports the loss to the winner.
- In partner matches, each member of the losing team reports a loss to both partners of the winning team. At the end of the match, you would either gain two wins or report two losses.
- In “free for all” matches (matches in which multiple opponents are competing against each other without partners), each loser of the match must report a loss to one overall winner.
- When playing matches with more than one opponent, it is important for losses to be reported in the proper order if rank will be affected by the order of report. You must report to the better-ranked opponent first in those cases. It is your responsibility to make sure you report in the correct order when necessary. Not doing so may result in penalty.
Unreported Matches
- If your opponent does not report their loss within one hour after completing the match or prior to starting another match, you should click on the “Contact Admin” link and then use the “Unreported Match” form.

Tournaments

League-Specific Rules

FTB League Rules & Expectations

The following supercede the rules of Cases and are to be specifically applied
to league play on the FTB Singles League.
* Multiple Accounts:
Anyone found to have active multiple accounts WILL be banned from FTB. It is against Cases/MyLeague & FTB rules to have more than one account per league.

* Same Household Members:
FTB encourages having families & friends join our league. However, we require that members who live in the same house (with 2 computers) NEVER play as partners. This helps deter any possible misconduct and/or accusations. Be aware that the ladder does monitor IP addresses and if players are using the same internet connection at the same time, Case's may catch this and penalize the players involved. *When you have one computer and switch your time spent playing, this is not a problem.*

Be advised again that players in the same household MAY NOT partner with each other at any time; Players found to be breaking this rule will be penalized by boxing or banning.

Exception to the above rule, will be made for random partner tournaments where your partner is chosen for you. Advise the TD director and/or admin when this occurs.

* Game Advertisements:
Games are initiated by invitation or advertising in the room lobby. When 3 other players agree to play the type of game your addy'ing for, GAME ON!.

An example of an advertisement- FTB Singles @ 8 6h whiz. What this means- singles play on table 8, 6 hands of the game whiz.

* Reporting of Games:
In singles play, both losing players report. Games are to be reported immediately after the game has ended. You should NOT start another game if you have yet to report from another game. **Please Note** Please make sure games are officially over before you report, but if for any reason you do go ahead and report, call an Admin or LA to the table and it will be reported correctly or email it in, if no Admins or LA's are in the room. ) You should always wait until the end of the game, especially with all the variations that are played.

If the league website is down, you need to email your reports to FTBLeague@yahoo.com. In that email you include whether it was a teams or singles game, the date & time, all 4 players and who won & who lost. All this information is necessary for your report to be made correctly when admin go to report them for you.

* Kibitz:
Kibbitzers do not have to stand during non-tournament games unless a player at the table asks them to stand. Also, you may only kibbitz one player at the table you are visiting..in other words, please don't play "musical chairs".
If the kibitzer is distracting the players with too much banter, simply ask for less chat so you can concentrate on the game. If you have a specific question or issue you need to deal with, with a person who is currently playing...rather than interrupt their game, request a chat once they have finished. Please respect all the players at the table.
REMEMBER! When you are kibitzing a game - you are only a spectator. If you are found to have disrupted the game with any sort of accusations or improper statements (with proof), you will receive a penalty.

* Kibitzers & Table Interruptions:
One may sit on any persons "lap" and watch the game. (This is why we have the Hiding Cards rule). However, if the kibitzer is distracting the players with too much banter, simply ask for less chat so you can concentrate on the game.

If you have a specific question or issue you need to deal with, with a person who is currently playing...rather than interrupt their game, request a chat once they have finished. Please respect all the players at the table.

REMEMBER! When you are kibitzing a game - you are only a spectator. Other than truthful congratulatory remarks, commenting about the game in play is not allowed. If you are found to have disrupted the game with any sort of accusations or improper statements (with proof), you will receive a penalty

* Table Talk:
There should be no talk between players that could change the outcome of the hand and/or game. Examples are: "bag 'em pard", "duck pard" and obvious direct instructions like, "clubs". When in doubt about a comment, just don't say it. Especially if your intention is to signal your partner to change the way they are playing or to simply wake them up.

Table talk (TT) can lead to an automatic forfeit of the game. If TT should occur, stop play and let the table know why (be polite). Call for assistance from an admin and copy the chat so they can see it and determine if what was said was indeed TT. If there are no admin available, and no one can agree on the TT, send the copy of chat and all the necessary information to admin so they can make the call later. That game can be on "hold" until the decision is made. You can go on to another game, but we suggest that you do so with another opponent.

* Misbids:
If a player misbids on the first hand of a game, then all players can reseat. However, should the same team/person misbid again after reseating in the first hand, the game is a forfeit.

When a misbid does occur in any other hand than the first, we would encourage the person who misbid to own up to the mistake and accept the forfeit. (Although some players may not want a forfeit, and may wish to just start the game over.)

Once a misbid is suspected or noticed, stop play. Calling a misbid after the hand has been played out, makes it too late to tell who misbid. If there is a disagreement about a misbid, contact an admin. If an obvious misbid is found and the team/person is argumentative over the call, they will forfeit the game and their captains will be notified of the issue and their behavior.

Be advised to pay attention to the bids prior to playing the hand out.

IMPORTANT - Only the player who misbids reports the loss in a singles game!

* Rank Hounding:
Players are expected to be as active after they reach the top ranks as they were before (especially if in Top 3 spots). In other words, if you are playing 20 games a day to make it to the upper bracket and then only play once a week to hold your rank - you will be penalized.
Furthermore, if you are found to be avoiding games that put your rank at risk; ie. not playing games with those players directly under you on ladder - you will be penalized.

IMPORTANT: If the player in #1 spot doesn't play the person in the #2 spot in 72 hours, they will be rung 10 places on the ladder.

* Booted Players:
When a player is booted from the room or the gaming site, he/she has 10 minutes to return to the table. A substitute may be called to replace the booted player if they have not returned in that time. If a player knows they are having continuous trouble with their connection to the site, internet connection, etc; we strongly suggest they allow the substitute to finish the game for them. The time of all the players involved should be taken into consideration.

If a player is booted at the beginning of the first hand, even after they bid, but before the 2nd card has been played, the game is not official. Simply reseat and start again. If the same player or team has a player booted again after the reseat, this game is official and the following things may happen: a substitute may be found to finish the game, the game called a wash, or the game called a forfeit. **Please note: The partner of the booted player is not liable to report the loss since they had no control of the boot(s).

If a reseat is deemed necessary for whatever reason, all players need to agree on the score - including bags & # of hands played. Reseat then and keep score manually. We do recommend that both teams have one player keep score and this is for your own benefit.

* Banned Players:
Any player found to have joined FTB after being previously banned will automatically be removed from the league.
Additionally, any player who knowingly withholds knowledge of a banned player being on the league will be penalized. Penalties for this action may be a box or a ban.

Also, if you wish to join FTB and have been banned from other leagues, we expect you to inform Admins of this. You will receive one chance and one chance only on FTB League.
If it is discovered that you have been banned on other leagues and have not informed FTB Admins of this, you will be removed from FTB.

* Substitutes:
A substitute may be asked for to replace a booted player who has not returned in the alloted 10 minutes, or a player who needs to leave. When this player agrees to sub, they are taking on the results of the game as their own, be it a win or a loss. If a sub can not be found BEFORE THE PLAYER WHO NEEDS TO LEAVE IS GONE, that player needs to report the game before signing off. If a sub can not be found AFTER THE PLAYER DOESN'T RETURN and the opponents want a report - those opponents let Admin know by emailing them at the admin account (ftbleague@yahoo.com) with all the pertinant information. A time period of 24 hours is alloted for booted players to report on their own; if it is not, Admin will then report the game. However, their partner DOES NOT report because they had no control over the situation.

* Tie Games:
In the event of a tie game, players stay at table (no reseat) to play one more hand to determine the winner. Definition of a tie game: both score and bags are the same. If the score is the same, but one team has less bags than the other, the team with the least amount of bags is the winner.

1x1 Games:
You are allowed 1x1 games, but ONLY if no teamies or guests are available. This means you may use a "bot" as your partner, and report the game with the "bot" being your team's guest player, but only under the circumstances named above. If it is determined you used a "bot" when a teamie or guest were available, you could face penalties.

* Rematches:
There is no rule on rematches - it is totally left up to the individual players. Admin will not force any person to play a rematch. However, it is common courtesy and good sportsmanship to grant a rematch to a player who has just lost a game to you...ESPECIALLY if for 1st place. We do advise that any players unwilling to grant rematches remember their behavior for when the roles are reversed.

* Formal Challenges:
We would like to encourage players to try to ask a player for a challenge directly first if you see them. If you don't see the person you are wanting to challenge, you can use the the formal challenge . This can be found on the left side of the league site. However, there are things you should be made aware of before doing this:

1. Only players in the Top 10 may utilize the formal challenge. You can only formally challenge the same player one time in a two day time span and there are two days allowed for a formal challenge to be completed. Once challenge is made, you are not to harrass the player by making derogatory comments on tables, in lobby or via private messages. Doing so will result in your challenge being voided and you may receive a penalty.
2. If you are the player being challenged - you should do your best to see that challenges are played as soon as possible. Avoiding or delaying challenges will result in penalty. If you have multiple people challenging you at once, you need to play the person with the highest rank first.

* Cheating:
Cheating will NOT be tolerated on FTB. Should any player be caught cheating, they will be immediately banned from the league.

Accusations of cheating are NOT to be made without proof. Examples: copy of chat, copy of a private message, etc. Penalties for false accusations of cheating will be met with severe consequences and can be a bannable offense. This is for everyone's benefit.

* Code of Conduct (COC):
The COC must be followed fully. No matter your time playing on the site, you are expected to familiarize yourself and know the rules while you are playing on the FTB League. Any FTB player who breaks the COC will be suspended from playing league games for as little as 2 days and as much as a week, or even permanetly. The administration is accountable for the behavior of the players on FTB and therefore will be the decision makers as to the severity of the suspension.

Captains are accountable to the administration for their team and EACH AND EVERY FTB member is expected to conduct themselves in a responsible, polite and respectable manner. Again, it is to your benefit to know these rules, because not following them may not only jeopardize your standing with the FTB League, but may also hurt your team.

* Message Forums Disclaimer:
Posting on the message forum is a privilege given only to members of the Singles League. It is intended as a place for league announcements, memos, congratulatory statements, & the sharing of ideas.

FTB Administration reserves the right to moderate the board.
Moderating of the board includes, but is not limited to, the following -

Offensive posts will be removed.

Repetitious posts will be removed.

Posts by individuals not on the league will be removed. This also applies to posts made by those who were once a member but who have either voluntarily withdrawn or who have been banned from the league.

Posts that bash individual(s) or teams by name will be removed. This also applies to those posts that may not specifically "name names", but do offer information sufficient enough that the individual(s) or team being remarked upon is easily identified.

WE EXPECT:
FTB members to be respectful to everyone. Treat others as you yourself would wish to be treated. If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.
WE EXPECT:
FTB members to conduct themselves as responsible people. The lobby is for advertising games, making league announcements, and chatting. All members are expected to take into consideration that many, if not all, people in the room are reading what you type.
WE EXPECT:
FTB members to be patient and considerate. We do not have the ability to see what is happening in another persons life and home, and everyone should get the benefit of the doubt first.
WE EXPECT:
FTB members to consider the other players when requesting a Be Right Back (brb) during games. Naturally interruptions can occur for all of us sitting behind our computers, but we do expect that BRBs be kept to a minimum if possible. Ideally, they should be taken at the end of a hand, asking for a HLC (hold last card). The game will be on hold until you return. If you know you will need more than 10 minutes, notify your partner that a substitute is needed. Always remember it is people, not computers, waiting to finish the game.
WE EXPECT:
FTB members not to hold grudges. Communication is key! Please work out any unresolved issues amongst yourselves or with an administrator's help. Keeping bad feelings does nothing but hurt you and others in the long run.
WE EXPECT:
FTB singles to play games with all on the ladder equally. Rank hounding is not permitted. A player in first place should of course play a player who is in second place to give them a shot at the top of the ladder. Keep in mind, no one player will always have 1st place, so give fair shots to all who ask...as one day you may be in their shoes.
WE EXPECT:
FTB members to be sensitive to other members concerns and feelings. Misunderstandings are too easily made online. Remember a wrong word typed, or even a missing comma, can change the meaning of a whole sentence. It is not up to any one person to decide if a person should be hurt or insulted. We are all different. Remember: behind every keyboard is a real person, and behind every person are real feelings.
WE EXPECT:
FTB members to come in and play for the league and HAVE FUN!

* Offense Guidelines:
It is impossible to list each and every violation. Below is a list of some examples as well as the procedure Admin and Team Captains are to follow -
Admin reserve the right to skip levels of penalty due to the severity of the offense.
Lobby fighting, Disruption of games, Accusations of cheating, Harassment of others, Non-reporting of games and/or lying about reporting, Encouraging fighting, Threatening others, and any similar violations:

1st offense: The Team Captain of the player will be emailed by Admin informing them of their player’s actions and the Team Captain will in turn deal with their player how they see fit. The Team Captain will need to deal with this situation within 48 hours. **Please note: if the player in question was already talked to by Admin and was issued a warning during that discussion - step 2 will be implemented*

2nd offense: The player will be emailed a warning letter by Admin. A copy of that warning letter will be sent to the Team Captain. The warning letter will state that if such behavior continues, a box will be issued to that player.

3rd offense: The player will receive a box for their actions. The Team Captain will also receive a warning letter. The length of the box will depend on the severity of the situation and will be determined by admin.

4th offense: The player will be banned from FTB League. The Team Captain will also receive a boxing. The length of the box for the Captain will be at Admins discretion.

~Please note that it is in each Captain’s best interest for their team not to allow disruptive players to remain. It is the Team Captain’s responsibility to keep track of all their players and their behavior.

~Captains have the discretion to request that a player on their team be boxed at any time.

~If the Team Captain is not online for a period of time during any incident, it will then be up to the Co-Captain to handle it. If a Co-Captain is not available, Admin will step in and help resolve the situation until a Captain or Co-Captain are available.

~If a player or the Team Captain does not agree with a warning or box, they can appeal the decision and meet with Admin. It is the Captain’s duty to inform Admin of such a request.

~Please be aware that in some extreme circumstances a warning or box will not be suitable and a ban will need to be issued. Examples of this would be actively playing under multiple names on the ladder, cheating with proof and accusations of cheating without proof.

~Any warnings or boxes issues will remain on the players record for a total of 6 months. If no other violations have occurred in that time, the players record will then be cleared.

~If a player is not on a team, they will be dealt with on an individual basis by admin (with the above 1-4 offense ) since they do not have a team captain.

Top Ten
The purpose of the League is to climb to the top and the competition for the rungs in the Top Ten is high. As such, we have special rules that apply for members in the Top Ten.

Inactivity
- Members in the Top Ten must play a League match at least once every 3 days; otherwise, you will be automatically dropped five rungs and your inactivity counter is reset. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Expected Behavior
As a member of MyLeague, you are representing the League, the Admin staff, and all other members when you are participating on a MyLeague. It’s part of your responsibility as a member to act in a respectable manner within your League community.

Cheating
- If you believe your opponent is cheating, then you should contact the Admin staff.
Abuse
- It is forbidden to abuse or harass another League member.
- It is important to remember that two wrongs do not make a right. If you are being harassed by another League member, contact the Admin staff for assistance. Do not take matters into your own hands or return the abuse, or you could be penalized as well.
Nice Guy Rule
- Please note that behavior guidelines govern all methods of communication. This includes chat, E-mail, message forums, instant messenger services, etc. Treat other members with respect!

Fill in the Blank
Although we have tried to be as detailed as possible, we can’t cover every aspect of gaming in our rules. Please be advised that just because something is not stated in our rules and policies, then that does not mean it is allowed. Use common sense. If it is something that will adversely affect other members and you might think twice about it, then it’s probably against the rules. The Admin staff will have the final say in such matters. If you have a specific question please feel free to contact us via E-mail.