I may be daft but I m not getting it.

The only refrence I see is more percentage is better, yet they compare it to a golf handicape where lower is better.

What exactly is the mat on that calculation.

Help me understand Please

Gregor
Home Casino Sycuan in El Cajon CA

After a little digging, I can tell you that the USPT has a pretty good formula that takes into avount the number of players in an event, the buy-in amount, and where a player finishes in that event. The comparison to golf handicap is only meant to show that it takes many tournaments (or "rounds") in order to have a more accurate account of your PSI. The lower the better in golf, but not in the case of your PSI. If is was calculated with fewer evnets, than each time you participate, the number would have drastic swings and really wouldn't be much of a measuring stick.

I realize this can be a little confusing, it is to me too at times. Just try to remember that the best way you have to measure how your game is progressing is how many good decisions you make compared to the mistakes you have during play. Obviously, the fewer mistakes and the more good decisions you have the better you are playing, reading, and your game is progressing.

Hiya Fellas,

The PSI is compared to a golf handicap simply for the fact that is a more conclusive way to rate play, like a handicap is, not because lower is better. Actually, with the PSI, you want it to be higher. Just for basics on the PSI, as we can't reveal the entire formula.

These are a few examples of things that are better for your PSI score:

It's better to finish 5th out of 100 players than it is to finish 1st out of 15. Finishing 5th out of 100 players in a Tier 1 Event is better than finishing in the same spot with the same number of players in a Tier 3 Event.

The primary catalysts for the PSI score are number of players, buy-in, and finish position. So the best way to increase your PSI would be to finish 1st in a Tier 1 Event against a ton of players. The most destructive thing for your PSI would be to finish last in a Tier 3 against only a few players. Obviously, the more events you play in, the smaller the moves in your PSI score will be, hence the entire purpose of the score itself which is to truly gauge how you rate as a player. At some point in the future, players will be asking each other, "What's your PSI?" When you answer, "92.33," you'll hear a chorus of oohs and ahhs (that score would be very high and would mean you had consistently finished very well in many tournaments, with several being Tier 1 and 2 Events).

Once you've played in enough events that your PSI doesn't change dramatically with every finish, then the point is to continually increase the quality of your play and gradually move your PSI score upward. After all, that's how pros become pros at anything, by constantly honing their skills through constant practice.

Hope that all helps a bit...best of luck at the tables.

Matthew Dodd
Executive Director
U.S. Poker Tour

Thanks guys that makes sense and helps a little. Mine is so low beacuse, though I place well, my tournements are small. OK.

But forgive me is that makes thisng still real vague.

It would be great if we could do some calculations on the web site to help explain it.

Math is generally not a weak point for most poker players. So don't be afraid to get really techical.

Thanls for the help.

Gregor
Sycuan Casino Player