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.)
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Inactivity
- In order to keep the League as dynamic as possible, your account will be automatically deleted if you are inactive for 255 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.
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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
Note: Please consult the Admin staff regarding whether or not League challenges are permitted for this League.
A challenge is defined as a request for a match with a higher-ranked member. Whether you are the challenger or the one being challenged, there are some rules that must be followed. Violating these rules may result in penalties. If you notice anyone violating these rules, please contact the Admin staff.
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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.
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Formal Challenges
- Most Leagues permit the use of Formal Challenges. A complete overview of the Formal Challenge system can be found here.
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3 time(s) Per Day
- You may play the same member 3 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.
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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
Once you are ready to start playing a League match, there are some guidelines governing game play that you should keep in mind.
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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.
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Sportsmanship
- The same rules that apply to behavior in chat (covered in a later section) also apply during matches.
Reporting the Match
Once your match is completed, the loser of the match is responsible for reporting the loss immediately. You can report your matches using the 'Report Loss' button located on the 'Standings' tab. Please note the 'Report Loss' link should only be used for League matches and not for tournament matches; you should consult the TD with any questions regarding reporting tournament matches. If you have any problems reporting a loss, you should contact the Admin staff and request assistance.
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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.
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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
The rules for a Tournament are determined by the Tournament Director hosting the event. You will find a summary of each individual Tournament, including a Rules page, if you follow the link for that specific Tournament.
League-Specific Rules
Game-Specific Rules for Yahoo Hearts
Ladder Players can play 1 vs 1 games with 2
bots. The losing player will report to the winning ladder member. In the event
that a bot wins, the player with the lowest score among the human players wins.
Penalty Box
If any of these rules, here under "Game
Specific Rules", appear to be in conflict with anything stated elsewhere in
other sections of the rules, then the rule in this section takes precedence.
Registered Player
All players in a Case reported match must be registered on
Case’s Hearts (Yahoo) Ladder. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Bots
Players in the "Penalty
Box" are not eligible to play in Ladder matches. There are no exceptions to this
rule.
Designated Play
Area(enacted 6/18/99)
All ladder challenges must be played
in the Open Room.
Failure to do so may result in a penalty.
(Tournaments will be played in a
room designated by the Tournament Director. Tournaments may be held in Open Room 1
but when the number of players exceed 30 players, the tournament will be moved to
another room or be run from a single table in the Open Room.)
Default Game
"100 points, Old Moon
(Add Only), No Tram, Play All
Valid
Game
Valid Case Hearts Ladder games must be 50 points or
greater. Reaching the predetermined score must finish the game.
Yahoo Forfeits
A. If there is
a “Clear Leader” at the time of the forfeit and all players agree, the other three
players will report the loss.
B. If there is “No Clear Leader” or if all
players don’t agree as in “A”, the game will continue by keeping score on paper
until the game score is achieved. In this case all players must agree on the score
before each hand.
C. Forfeits that occur in the early stages of a game and
if all players agree, the game can be restarted. If all players do not agree to a
restart then “B” in this section will be followed.
Booted Player
Under no
circumstances will the player who left the table due to technical difficulties
report a loss to all three players. The single report will be in effect and the
winner of the game will receive the report. (In case of a tie, two reports will be
given.) A player who has left a game for any reason will have 10 minutes to return
to the game. (See Yahoo Forfeits)
Winning
and Losing a Match
All three losers (persons with the
highest scores at the end of the match) are required to report a loss to the one
player who at the end of the match has the lowest score. In the event of a tie for
first place the persons sharing the winning position do not report to anyone, and
the remaining two players each report a loss to each of the winners.
Official Start of Game
A game of
hearts is considered started once a player has been invited to sit by the host. No
challenge will take precedence over the seated player at that time.
First Come First Served
The
priority rule for accepting challenges only applies when you have multiple
challenges prior to the start of your next game. If you are challenged by someone,
you should not go to chat and actively seek someone higher in rank to challenge you,
rather you need to accept the first challenger.
Twice Per Day
Players may play and
report the same Player twice a day. The Top 5 is restricted to one report a day with
other Players of any rank. Example: If #1 is challenged by #2, win or lose, they
CANNOT play again until the next day. #2 can only challenge #1 the same day if the
Player is not the same as in the earlier game and they have not played yet that day.
Before each game can be started, you must be able to report all the players
in the game.
Absolutely no "Play today, Report tomorrow" games are
permitted. You cannot play the same player(s) in consecutive games and you must
play another game before playing them again. If two players ask for a seat, the seat
will be given to the player who has played the least amount of players in the game.
In case of a tie, the seat goes to the highest ranked player.
Game Settings
Hearts is a game with
many variations. Allowing players the chance to alter the table settings adds to
the fun of the game. The Host of the table may choose to alter the "default" game
settings as long as ALL players agree. Once the Game Setting Rules are agreed on by
all players, anyone breaking these rules will forfeit the game and report a loss to
all three (3) players. Hosts should record these changes in case of a dispute.
Challengers have the right to refuse any rules changes without losing the right to
challenge. If all players cannot agree on changes, then the default settings,
listed in the Game Specific Section of the rules, must be used.
Top Twenty Challenges Game
Top
twenty challenges must take priority over any other challenges issued to top twenty
players. If you have multiple top twenty challenges at the same time, games must be
given to the highest rank first.
Top
10
The top 10 positioned players must play all top twenty
challenges in the rank order of challenges made by players (if present and
challenging). Should they be absent from the ladder for two (2) consecutive days,
the players rank will automatically be dropped 5 rungs to make room for the players
that are playing. When two (2) Top 10s are in a game together each player should
have the right to choose one of the other two (2) players. (See Game Setting)
Number One vs. Number Two
Top 1-2 challenges must be played at the earliest possible time. This match is
no different from any other in that it should be issued in chat and played on the
spot. If you wish to setup a time to play in the future that is fine, but rank
threatening matches to either player cannot be avoided or postponed based on the
time scheduled to play this match.
After completion of the 1-2 challenge,
if either #1 or #2 wins, both players must play all top ten players available prior
to another challenge being issued. The rules regarding Rank Mongering and
Leapfrogging before this match is played are in effect. Should any top ten players
be found to only be playing matches once every two days, or not playing at the same
pace as they were before getting to the top ten, they will be dropped in rank as per
those rules.
Open Tables
Players may hold open tables at any time. The top twenty-challenge rule does
apply to the open tables. If a top twenty challenges another top twenty at an open
table that game will take precedence over challenges being accepted by lobby order.
However, if a player has been invited to play a challenge match with a top twenty
player and has been seated at the time a top twenty makes a challenge, the player
seated may continue that game and the top twenty challenge would be played next. All
other challenges will be played on a first come, first play basis.
Private Tables
Top twenty players
are prohibited from playing at private tables. All top twenty players will play on
protected tables for easy access by their top twenty challengers. However, the
rules of player etiquette still apply and NO CHALLENGE SHALL BE PERMITTED WHILE A
GAME IS IN PROGRESS. Any Player violating this rule and abusing or harassing the
players at that table will be penalized. Challenges may only be made before and
after any game being played at that table.
Protected Table
Top 20 players are
not always holding an Open Table. It is the duty of a top 20 player to declare in
the Lobby and at the table when they are holding an Open Table. As long as a Top 20
player gives priority to Top 20 challengers, they have the right to invite anyone
they choose to play after that. There is no Lobby Order unless a table is declared
to be Open. It is understood they cannot deny a challenge based on rank.
Challengers should ensure the status of a table prior to waiting in line for a
game.
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.
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.
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.
