Zlobober's blog

2 person team contests: feedback
By Zlobober, history, 9 years ago, translation, In English

The VK Cup championship has just finished. It gave us a great opportunity to try new contest format when contestants participate in teams consisting of two people. While setting up online rounds, finals and finals mirror, we found out many nuances and tricky things that should be considered while running such special contests, but in order to came up with a full picture we need some kind of a feedback from the community.

That's why Codeforces team wants to ask a community to share some thoughts regarding what was done right, what was done wrong, what could be improved and what should be added. Do not hesitate to tell us about your experience or to give some advices regarding such unusual contest format, we would like to hear any reasonable thoughts.

We want any kind of feedback for online rounds, for onsite finals from finalists and for finals mirror that happened yesterday.

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9 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -36 Vote: I do not like it

While upgrading the rating of the team , the expected rank of the team should be calculated as if the team is a person having rating = (max(member 1 , member 2) + k(some constant that the cf admins shall decide for that team using some formula) )

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    9 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it -31 Vote: I do not like it

    This might be a good idea, depending on what you mean by "using some formula." Without specifying the formula this isn't much of a suggestion.

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    9 years ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

    What's wrong with the existing formula? And looks like you only care about max rating, but less stronger member can solve easier problems too when stronger one can take more time for the hard problems. Now, here comes a question, how would they solve different problems with one computer? Well, there is a solution too: use 2 computer to code and submit only by one computer. Now, don't ask me how to send codes from one computer to another using internet :P

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      9 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it -16 Vote: I do not like it

      Oh I hadn't read that post before this and a friend of mine had told me that the rating of the team is just the average of the 2 members.

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9 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +6 Vote: I do not like it

My opinion for rule about one computer on contest:

That is bad decision, for onsite final that is good and standard, but for online mirror that isn't important. Only difference is sending solution from my computer to computer of my teammate and after that he/she submit it.In future you should change it...

Idea about team contest is great! Maybe it's good option to have new rating — team rating. Also you can organize one team contest per month ( for example like regular div1/div 2 round with seven problems in 2h).

Size of teams — I think that 2 member is enough and optimal, but maybe teams can contain 3 members ( like some practice for ACM contest).

Thanks for great contest and hope many like it, only a little easier :)

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