Format & rules
Play. Survive.
Win your seat.
Seven days of robot bridge, five weeks in a row. Three days to play your 36 boards, then elimination throughout the week — the first cut at Wednesday's close, then one every evening through Saturday. The last two standing in each flight earn a seat at the NABC in San Diego.
How the week works
You play your 36 boards over the first three days, whenever suits you — they must be finished before Wednesday closes, at about 4:00 AM US Eastern Time. That's when the first cut lands. From there you play one short tournament a day, and each evening the weakest quarter of the remaining field is eliminated. On Sunday, the two best players in each flight win a free NABC entry and a seat in the San Diego live final. An active ACBL membership is required to enter.
| Day | Boards | Field | At day’s end | Masterpoints® |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon → Wed | 36 (72-hour window) | Everyone entered | First cut — bottom 25% eliminated (~4am ET Thu) |  200% Crystal + BXP |
| Thursday | 12 | Survivors | Second cut — bottom 25% eliminated |  200% Black + BXP |
| Friday | 12 | Survivors | Third cut — bottom 25% eliminated |  200% Red + BXP |
| Saturday | 12 | Survivors | Fourth cut — bottom 25% eliminated |  200% Silver + BXP |
| Sunday | 12 | Final field | No cut — top 2 win their seat in San Diego |  200% Gold + BXP |
The same week runs 5 times between September 7 and October 11 — if you're eliminated, you can enter again the next week, up to five attempts total. Two flights play side by side, 0–750 Masterpoints® and Open, each sending 2 players to the live final every week. Across both flights, 20 players reach the live final in San Diego.
Three rules that decide your week
Play all 36 boards
The three-day window closes Wednesday night. Unfinished boards score as played badly, and your total decides whether you survive the first cut.
Beat the field, not the robots
Starting at Wednesday's close, the bottom quarter is eliminated every evening through Saturday. A safe score beats a brilliant gamble.
Finish top 2 on Sunday
The two best eligible players in your flight win free entry to the NABC in San Diego and a seat in the live final. Everyone else can play again next week.
Before you enter
One entry per week
15 BB$ covers all seven days of that week, however far you go.
Two flights
0–750 Masterpoints® and Open. You are only ever ranked against your own flight.
ACBL members only
An active ACBL membership is required to enter either flight.
Robot tournaments
Duplicate tournaments with robots on BBO. Play whenever suits you inside the day’s window.
Five attempts
Eliminated early? Play again the next week — up to five attempts across the event.
7 September → 11 October 2026
Five weeks, each running Monday to Sunday. The first week starts Monday 7 September; the last one starts Monday 5 October and ends Sunday 11 October.
Twenty seats. Five weeks. One chance a week.
See what the finalists take home — and what waits for them at the NABC in San Diego.