Bikoosh Pools · guide
Confidence pools and weighted pick'em: how to make later rounds count more
A confidence pool asks each entry to rank its picks by certainty; a weighted pick'em gives later rounds more points. Both reward the same thing, knowing which games you are sure of, and the second is far easier to run at the office.
Weighted rounds (what the tool does)
- The host sets points per matchup when listing them: 1 for the wild card round, 2 for the divisional, 3 for the championship games, 4 for the final is a common ladder.
- A correct pick scores the matchup's points; the tiebreak stays the final's total.
- Add each round's matchups as they become known, so every pick is between the two teams actually playing.
Confidence points (the harder way)
- Each entry gives every game a different confidence number, 1 to N; a correct pick scores its number.
- It needs a spreadsheet or a dedicated tool and a rule for ties in confidence; most offices move to weighted rounds after one season.
Start a squares pool What Bikoosh Pools does
Quick answers
What is a confidence pool?
A pick'em where each entry ranks its picks by certainty, 1 to N, and a correct pick scores its rank; the most confident correct picks score the most.
How do I weight playoff rounds in a pick'em?
Give each round's matchups more points when you list them: 1, 2, 3 and 4 points from the wild card round to the final is a common ladder; the tool scores the matchup's points per correct pick.
Other guides: How Super Bowl squares work (and how to run a grid at the office) · How a pick'em pool is scored (NFL playoffs, bowl games, any bracket) · How to split a squares pool payout (the common structures) · How squares numbers are drawn, and why the draw comes after the lock · Which squares numbers win most often, and why it does not matter before the draw · Pick'em tiebreaker rules that actually settle a tie · Survivor pool rules (last one standing), written down · March Madness office pool: bracket or pick'em, and how to run it by round · Is an office pool legal? What it depends on · Squares for any game: college football, the World Cup final, the Grey Cup, a cup final · How many people do you need for a squares pool · Running an office pool for a remote or hybrid team · Office pool rules: what to write down before the first game
Bikoosh Pools is an independent tool, not affiliated with any league, team or broadcaster; team and event names are used to describe the game being followed. Bikoosh Pools never collects, holds or pays out money and never sets stakes: it keeps the grid, the picks and the standings for people who already know each other. Whether a pool carries any stake, and whether that is allowed where you are, is the host's responsibility.