Squares Contest Rules and Guide

What is a Squares contest?

A Squares contest is a game built around a 10×10 grid and the last digit of each team’s score. Players obtain squares using Bracket Contest Points (BCP). Each square is associated with one digit for each team. At designated scoring checkpoints, the square matching the last digits of the teams’ cumulative scores wins the applicable prize.

BracketContest offers Squares primarily for football and may also offer basketball Squares. You do not need to predict a winner or exact score. Your square’s assigned digits determine which score combinations can win.

How do Squares contests work?

1. Choose an available event and review the BCP cost per square, prizes, scoring checkpoints and rules.
2. Select your squares or receive randomly assigned squares, depending on the contest. There is no limit on the number of squares a player may obtain, subject to availability.
3. After the game starts, digits are assigned to the rows and columns. Check the board to see the score combinations attached to your squares.
4. Follow the cumulative score at each listed checkpoint. Match the last digit of each team’s score to the corresponding row and column.
5. The matching square receives the prize allocated to that checkpoint. The final-game checkpoint includes overtime.

How the 10×10 grid works

The grid contains 100 squares. One team is assigned to the rows and the other to the columns. Each axis uses the digits 0 through 9, creating one square for every possible pair of final score digits. Follow the team labels shown on the board: reversing the teams changes the winning square.

For example, if the row team has 17 points and the column team has 24 points at a checkpoint, the winning square is row 7, column 4. A score of 27–34 produces the same 7–4 combination because only the last digit of each score is used.

When are numbers assigned?

Row and column numbers are assigned after the game starts. Players can choose a square’s location or receive a random square assignment, but the digits attached to that location are not known until the numbers are assigned. Check the completed board for your actual combinations.

Squares rules at BracketContest

BCP entry and square availability

Squares are obtained using BCP. The BCP cost per square may vary by event and is shown in the contest listing. Players may obtain multiple squares; there is no per-player limit. Availability is limited to the squares remaining on each board. When all squares are purchased, a new game is opened.

Unfilled squares and the house

The house receives any unfilled squares. If a house-held square wins a scoring checkpoint, the house retains that prize. It is not redistributed to player-held squares. A board can therefore have both player-held and house-held squares.

Cumulative scores determine winners

Use the total score at the end of the scoring checkpoint, not the points scored in that period alone. For example, if a team scores 7 points in the first quarter and 10 in the second, its halftime score is 17 and its halftime digit is 7.

Final score includes overtime

The final-game prize is determined using the final score including overtime. Completed earlier checkpoints remain based on the scores at those checkpoints. If overtime changes the last digits, the final winning square may differ from the square matching the score at the end of regulation.

Postponed and cancelled events

A postponed game cancels the Squares contest. If the event is cancelled, all BCP used for squares in that contest are returned. Check the contest’s status and rules for any event-specific notices.

Squares prize percentages

For football and basketball played in quarters, the default prize allocation is 20% for the first quarter, 20% for halftime, 20% for the third quarter and 40% for the final score including overtime. College basketball Squares uses two checkpoints: 25% for the first-half score and 75% for the final score including overtime.

• First quarter: 20%.
• Halftime: 20%.
• Third quarter: 20%.
• Final game score including overtime: 40%.

For college basketball, use the cumulative score at the end of the first half for the 25% prize and the final score including overtime for the 75% prize. There are no first-quarter or third-quarter prizes in this format.

Example of winning Squares

Suppose the row team and column team have the following cumulative scores. The numbers below are illustrations, not actual event results.

• First quarter: 7–3. Row 7, column 3 wins the 20% first-quarter allocation.
• Halftime: 17–10. Row 7, column 0 wins the 20% halftime allocation.
• Third quarter: 24–17. Row 4, column 7 wins the 20% third-quarter allocation.
• Final including overtime: 30–27. Row 0, column 7 wins the 40% final allocation.

A square can win more than one checkpoint if the matching last digits repeat. A player holding several squares may have more than one winning square. House-held winning squares retain their allocated prizes for the house.

Football Squares and basketball Squares

Football and basketball played in quarters use the 20% / 20% / 20% / 40% prize allocation at the first quarter, halftime, third quarter and final score. College basketball uses 25% at the end of the first half and 75% at the final score. Final scores include overtime in both formats.

Choosing squares and understanding your chances

Each square represents one score-digit pair after numbers are assigned. Obtaining more squares gives you more combinations on that board, but also uses more BCP and does not guarantee a prize. Actual scoring patterns vary by sport, so a 100-square board does not mean every square has the same real-world chance of winning a checkpoint.

Because digits are assigned after the game starts, choosing a location before assignment does not let you choose a known digit pair. Review the BCP cost, available prizes and house-square rule before participating.

Squares compared with other contests

Squares: Your assigned score digits determine whether your square wins at a checkpoint. Pick’em: You select game outcomes and accumulate points. Survivor: You make qualifying picks to remain eligible. Bracket contest: You predict the progression of a tournament through its championship.