Poolsbyround's leagues offer the ultimate pick'em game strategy. When using the default settings, the site is designed to balance the value of each pick.

Picking one round at a time is poolsbyround's signature feature and is recommended for a more engaging, strategic game. Players pick the first round games, then pick the following games once each game's teams are known. If a player has an unlucky first round, they can make adjustments to catch up and not lose interest. Or play the traditional way where players pick the whole bracket before the games start. This feature is available for the March Magic and NBA Playoff pools.

Point spreads or team seed are used to assign the point value of each team, similar to a moneyline bet. Instead of players dealing with whether or not a team beats the spread, players just pick the winner of each game. The bigger the underdog, the more points the pick is worth. The bigger the favorite, the less points the pick is worth. This setting can be fine tuned to your preference with the off/low/medium/high setting.

Some rounds or games are more important than others. For example, each successive round in a March Madness bracket can be worth more points than the previous round. This setting can be fine tuned to your preference with the off/low/medium/high setting.

Typically, after the 1st round in a brackets pool, players can only pick from one of the teams they picked in the previous round. When picking 1 round at a time, leagues have the option to allow players to start fresh each round and pick any team, regardless of their previous round's picks.

Each week, one game (preselected by poolsbyround) can optionally have it's point values doubled.

Select how many points you want to risk for each game. Some pools include the 'risk' league option, which allows a player to win extra points for a correct pick or lose points for an incorrect pick. When 'risk' is not selected, you do not lose points for an incorrect pick. The risk selection is made per game with options for none/low/high.

If you pick the winner of a series, you win points. If you also pick the correct number of games played in the series, for example Lakers in 5, you get bonus points. This setting can be fine tuned to your preference with the off/low/medium/high setting.

NFL, NBA and college football season leagues can use fantasy style match play to determine the winner. Players match up against another league member each week. Whoever gets the most points that week wins the match. The best W/L record at the end of the season wins the league. With match play turned off, the most points wins the league.

NFL football, college football and NBA Weekends pool leagues can include over/under selections on their picks page in addition to picking game winners. Players pick whether the total points scored in a game will be over or under the posted number.

League commissioners have expanded capabilities, including:

• Select the league options you want.

• Make late picks for tardy league members.

• Adjust league members' game points total. (if you want to play it a bit different)

• See who has or has not made their picks.

• Send league invitations.

League Invitations can be sent by email, which poolsbyround sends for you, or by any type of text or message which includes a provided league join link. If you've hosted a league before, you can selectively import members from any previous league.

• The All Picks page shows all league players' picks in one place.

• You can see the results and all members picks of any past league you have been a part of.

• Many more features are included. Don't see what you are looking for? Please ask.