Buchholz Median-1

Buchholz Median-1 (BH-M1) starts from the same idea as Buchholz: each opponent contributes a value based on the opponent's final score, with any required adjustments for unplayed rounds. Under the rules of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Median-1 modifier then removes the least significant value first and the most significant value second.

In a straightforward Buchholz calculation with no unplayed-round complications, this can be understood as dropping the score of the lowest-finishing opponent and the score of the highest-finishing opponent, then adding the rest. With contributions of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Median-1 removes 2 and 7, leaving 18.

The purpose is to reduce how strongly the two extremes of a player's schedule affect the tie-break. It is not the same as Buchholz Cut-1: Cut-1 removes only the least significant value, while Median-1 removes one value from each end. Under current FIDE rules, modifiers are also subject to special handling of unplayed rounds.