How does Beat the Box work?
Four players, three games, a different partner every time. Then the standings decide the next boxes. No need to negotiate your next partner — PAHANDUS handles it.
When should you choose it?
Choose this for rotating partners with time to settle into a small group. Unlike Mexicano, boxes change after three games, not after every game. Standings are individual.
PAHANDUS supports padel doubles with 4–64 players in multiples of four. Eight players need two courts; twelve need three. Everyone plays simultaneously, with no scheduled rest slots.
A real box: Marta, Katrin, Beniamino and Raigo
The first four names form box one, the next four box two, and so on. Put the roster in your intended strength order before starting.
- Game 1: Marta + Raigo vs Katrin + Beniamino.
- Game 2: Marta + Beniamino vs Katrin + Raigo.
- Game 3: Marta + Katrin vs Beniamino + Raigo.
- Everyone has partnered each of the other three players once. No missing-partner arguments required.
After the third game
Confirm results on every court. Starting the next block puts standings positions 1–4 in the first new box, 5–8 in the second, and so on. Each box plays another three-game phase.
Points carry over. Regrouping uses the entire tournament’s accumulated standings. Initial order settles a complete tie. This is not ELO or a rating carried over from other tournaments.
Scoring and draws follow your settings
Choose fixed total points or timed games before starting. Select the primary ranking measure and tie-breaks in settings. Table-point scoring supports 3/2/1 or 2/1/0 for win/draw/loss.
A draw stays a draw. There is no last-game-winner decision for moving up a court ladder: new boxes come from the standings, not directly from winning one match.
Organiser checklist
Choose 3, 6, 9… up to 30 blocks. Six timed games of 15 minutes give 90 minutes of play; allow extra time for changes and breaks.
Edit boxes and pairs during the first game of a phase while the affected matches are unscored. The next two games keep those boxes and rotate partners.
Correct a name at any time. Add or remove active players after confirming the third game, before starting the next phase. Keep complete boxes and enough courts.
For a mid-phase withdrawal, use the match’s Exceptional result action to record the retirement score or a walkover. Active-roster changes wait until the phase ends. Do not rename the withdrawn player as their replacement: that would mix their results.