How does a match work? Rules and scoring explained
Every match is 3 rounds with one open question each. Outlast your opponent on the clock — best score after 3 rounds wins, and a 2-point lead ends it early.
Updated June 11, 2026
A Rosh BeRosh match is always you against one real opponent, live. No multiple choice here — you type your own answers to open list-questions.
The match structure
A match has 3 rounds, with one question per round.
Before each round there is a short countdown where both of you see the question and can start thinking.
Who answers first alternates every round — if your opponent opened the last round, this one is yours.
The turn timer
On your turn you race the clock: it currently starts at 15 seconds, and shrinks by 1 second for every correct answer already found in the round — down to a minimum of 8 seconds. The deeper the round goes, the hotter it gets.
A correct, new answer passes the turn to your opponent with a fresh timer.
A wrong or duplicate answer costs you nothing but time — keep typing and retrying as long as your timer is running.
Spelling is forgiving: close-enough typos are accepted, and alternate spellings of the same answer count too.
Winning rounds — and the match
Your timer runs out? You lose the round and your opponent gets 1 round point.
All answers to the question get used up? The round is a draw — both players get a point.
The match goes to whoever has the better score after 3 rounds, and a 2-point lead wins the match early.
Tied after 3 rounds? The match is a draw and your entry fee is refunded.
Pro tip: wrong answers cost nothing but seconds — when in doubt, fire away. The only real enemy is the timer.