Super Smash Bros. Melee:

• Best of 3
• Top 4 will be Best of 5
• Double Elimination.
• Each match is played with timed stock, with 4 lives and 8 minutes.
• In the case that time runs out and both characters have an equal amount of lives, the character with less damage wins the match. If both characters have equal lives and damage, or if both characters lose their last life on the same frame, the match must be replayed. Sudden Death is not to be played.
• Items are turned off.
• The first match is played on one of the five neutral stages listed above. Which neutral stage is picked is determined by either stage striking, random selection, or both.
• For the first match, characters are chosen double-blind - at the same time, so that neither player knows his opponent's character beforehand. In practice, this rule is often ignored, but players always reserve the option to force a double-blind pick.
• The loser of the first match (and of successive matches) chooses the next stage, and then the winner chooses his character, and then the loser chooses his character. This series of choices is called slob picks.
• The loser can pick either a neutral stage or a counterpick stage.
• The loser cannot choose any stage that has already been played earlier that round. This rule is known as "Dave's Stupid Rule", named after Scamp.
• The winner may ban one stage from the opponent's selection, except in best-of-5 sets.

The following stages are neutral in singles:

• Battlefield
• Dream Land N64
• Final Destination
• Fountain of Dreams
• Yoshi's Story

The following stages are counterpick-only in singles:

• Pokémon Stadium

The following stages are neutral in doubles:

• Battlefield
• Dream Land N64
• Final Destination
• Pokémon Stadium
• Yoshi's Story

All other stages are banned.