Bikoosh Pools · guide
How to split a squares pool payout (the common structures)
A squares pool pays per period, and the split is the one rule to write down before the first square is claimed. The common structures below are what offices actually use; the tool keeps the grid and names the winner of each period, and never holds or moves what the group agreed.
The three usual splits
- Equal quarters: 25 / 25 / 25 / 25 percent of whatever the group agreed, one winner per period.
- Final-heavy: 20 / 20 / 20 / 40 percent, the final worth double, the most common office split.
- Half and final: 25 percent at the half, 75 percent at the final; simplest to run, fewer winners.
Variants worth writing down
- Reverse squares: a second, smaller prize for the mirrored square (away digit on the rows, home on the columns).
- Touching squares: the eight squares around the winner share a small consolation; popular when many squares stay empty.
- An empty winning square: say in advance whether it rolls over to the next period or to the final.
What the host does
- Enter the cumulative score at the end of each period; the board names the holder of the winning square at once.
- 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.
Start a squares pool What Bikoosh Pools does
Quick answers
What is the most common squares payout split?
20 / 20 / 20 / 40 percent for the first quarter, the half, the third quarter and the final, with the final worth double; equal quarters (25 each) is the second most common.
What happens if the winning square is empty?
Whatever the pool's rules said before the lock: most pools roll an empty square's share over to the next period or to the final; write it down in the pool's notes.
Does the tool handle the payout?
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.
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 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 · Confidence pools and weighted pick'em: how to make later rounds count more · 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.