Chalkboard Showdowns: How It Works
Showdowns is Chalkboard’s peer-to-peer (P2P) daily fantasy game mode where you compete directly against other users for prizes. You build a contest by predicting whether players will go higher or lower than their projected stats, then face off against others in competitive pools with leaderboard payouts.
For information on where Showdowns is available, see our Where Can I Play? support article.How to Play Showdowns
Build Your Contest
Select 2–8 players and predict whether each player will go Higher or Lower than their statistical projection. Each prediction is called a leg.
Choose Your Pool
Your entry is placed into a pool based on your leg count and experience level. Pools contain other Chalkboard users competing with similar entries.
Compete on the Leaderboard
Entries are scored based on prediction outcomes. Higher difficulty picks and more correct predictions earn more points. The highest-scoring entries finish at the top of the pool leaderboard. You can view your pool’s leaderboard and details by tapping the Pool banner at the bottom of your entry.Scoring
Each pick has a multiplier that represents its point value. Your entry’s total potential score is the sum of all leg multipliers. SGP combinations are scored using separate logic
Example:
Giannis Over 32.5 Points (2×)
Curry Under 28.5 Points (3×)
Tatum Over 25.5 Points (1.5×)
Total potential score: 6.5 points
Your final score depends on how many predictions you get correct.How Payouts Work
There are two ways to win in Showdowns.
Leaderboard Payouts
Each pool awards prizes based on leaderboard placement. Payouts are calculated as your entry fee multiplied by the placement multiplier.
If multiple entries tie for a winning placement, that prize is split evenly between all entries. For example, a 100× prize split among four tied entries pays 25× each.
If no entry is fully correct, the prizes go to the entries with the highest score
Guaranteed Entry Win
If you get enough predictions correct, you win your entry outright. The required number of correct picks is shown before submission and varies based on whether you select a Max or Shield contest. This payout is guaranteed regardless of leaderboard results.
Payout Timing
All winnings are paid in Bonus Funds shortly after the final active entry in the pool is settled.
Pool Types and Experience Levels
To ensure fair competition, Showdowns uses experience-based pools.
Experience Levels
Beginner
Intermediate
Veteran
Highly Experienced
Veteran and Highly Experienced users compete in the same pools. Highly Experienced status may be shown for compliance reasons.
Pool Eligibility Rules
Users may play up in difficulty but may not play down.
Beginners may enter Beginner, Intermediate, or Veteran pools.
Intermediates may enter Intermediate or Veteran pools.
Veterans and Highly Experienced users may enter Veteran pools only.
Pool Breakdown
There are 21 total pools, created from seven leg counts (2-leg through 7-leg) and three experience levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Veteran).
Beginner Pools: Contain 20 contests, offer a 3× 1st-place payout, are available to beginner users only, have a maximum entry fee of $5, and allow a maximum of one entry per pool.
Intermediate Pools: Contain 20 contests, offer a 3× 1st-place payout, are not available to Veteran or Highly Experienced users, have a maximum entry fee of $5, and allow a maximum of one entry per pool.
Veteran Pools: Available to all users. Entry limits and maximum stakes vary by leg count and are designed to support the primary competitive environment.
Contest Rules and Considerations
Contest Cancellation
You may cancel a contest and receive a refund if all of the following conditions are met:
The contest was placed within the last five minutes.
The contest contains no in-play picks.
The contest includes no players from games that have started.
If eligible, tap "Free Cancellation" on the Entries page. Refunds are issued as playthrough credit and must be used before withdrawal. You may cancel a maximum of five contests within a 24-hour period.
DNPs, Pushes, and Voided Picks
Any pick that ties its projection (a push) or involves a player who does not play (DNP) will be voided.
For contests with three or more picks, payouts are adjusted as if the voided pick was not included.
Two-pick contests that include a DNP are canceled and refunded.
All contests must include players from multiple teams. If voids leave eligible players from only one team, the entire contest is canceled and refunded.
Game Cancellations and Delays
For football, basketball, and hockey, picks related to games that are canceled, postponed, or abandoned mid-game are voided.
For baseball:
Games completed on their originally scheduled date are graded normally.
Games not started on the original date are voided.
Games started and resumed the following day are graded normally.
Games started but later postponed are voided.
Voided picks follow the same logic as DNPs, including multi-team requirements.
Max Entry Count for Users
All pool types have a limit on how many entries one user can occupy in any given pool
This allows for fair and competitive gameplay to remain
Additional Rules and Considerations
Shortened games with official final results are graded normally.
Contest grading may take 15–60 minutes after game completion.
Contest entries may not include multiple picks on the same player.
Overtime and extra innings count toward stats.
Chalkboard uses trusted third-party stat providers. Live stats are for entertainment purposes and may change.
Stat corrections made within 30 minutes of game completion will result in contest regrading. Corrections made after that window will not.
Chalkboard reserves the right to void, modify, or remove any pick at its sole discretion.