Here are the rules for playing the Musical Chairs Format for Pinochle Tournaments held by the Musical Chairs Family at Mystic Island.
Please seat yourself at an existing table that has an available seat. If all existing tables are full (or have a seat reserved), then a new table may be opened.
It is recommended that players who have not played with the Musical Chairs format do not open new tables as table hosts and leave the hosting to those who have played before. This would give players who never played with the Musical Chairs format before an opportunity to get the feel on how this works.
The Musical Chairs Pinochle format is designed to be a quick, fun, easy to play event. It is designed to last no more than two hours. Four players will play three games at the same table. Exactly three games will be played by each player that night. The players will be seated as follows (or a similar arrangement)
The table host must make sure that each game is started with the following settings:
Ribbons will be awarded to the players with the top two scores each week. If there is a tie, more ribbons will be awarded. Each ribbon will last 48 hours (or however long the ribbons are programmed to last). If the player already has a ribbon, then that player ribbons will be renewed - that is it will expire 48 hours after being renewed (like what happens when you renew a library book). The three highest scoring players in a weekly event that plays Musical Chairs format will be mentioned on the Musical Chairs Pinochle main page for one week.
There is a Pinochle Event Winners web page listing the top four scoring players each week. This list also mentions all players who won all three games in that event.
At least four players each week will be invited to play at the Musical Chairs Pinochle Tournament of Champions. The four highest scoring players will be invited to the TOC for each event. Also, any player who won three games will be invited whether that player was among the top 4 scoring players or not. The list of invitees will not be determined until the whole event is over.
If you won three games, you will be requested for your e-mail address so that you can be reminded that you have been invited and when the TOC will occur. If you are a high scoring player who did not win three games, you may be asked to stay until it has been determined if you have qualified for the TOC or not.
Currently the TOCs are held on the second Saturday of each month in the Musical Chairs Pinochle TOC event. The game time is 9PM ET / 6PM PT.
The table results are automatically posted to the lobby after each hand is played. The final score is posted to the lobby upon conclusion of the game. Unless the table host has booted and did not return, there is no need to post or keep track of the current score for each game. However, if the score does not appear in the lobby, it is the table host's responsibility to make sure that the the results of each game is posted in the lobby. Also if by any chance actual final score is different than what is posted in the lobby, be sure that the tournament host knows that the score you posted is correct. This may happen in case of a crash and the game cannot be resumed from the time of the crash. Also the table host must verify with the tournament host at the end of the third game to make sure tournament host has the scores from all three games.
Standard Pinochle rules apply. This tourney is supposed to be fun. People who find it necessary to cheat, lie, bend the rules, or be difficult are NOT fun and as such, they should find a different site to play Pinochle. If a disagreement does arise, please make every effort to reach a quick and fair settlement between the players at the table. If the situation is unresolvable, the Tourney Host can be called to the table to make a ruling. Please note: the Tourney Host and all of the Tourney Helpers are kind, gentle, caring individuals. All of us are running this event for FUN. Arguments are NOT fun. As such, the Tourney Host's ruling will be quick and FINAL.
Please be patient for the player who crashed to return to the game. Normally the crashed player can return within five minutes. If host crashes, the host should return and restart the game from where everyone left off. If the crashed player cannot return within seven minutes, then the game is completed with a sub.