OPEN FLUE BBQ

OPEN FLUE BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 10 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 24th of 53 at the Cedar Fest BBQ (2015). They are ranked #3931 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,931

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1485

peak 1485 · rated over 8 contests2 invitational or side-series contests not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Oct 3, 2013

latest Jun 4, 2021 · 7.7 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1236

Master 2021 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 10 contests

Avg finish

top 69%

overall standings

Best overall

643.9428 / 720

Master · Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off

Perfect 180s

Current form

635.61 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 615.53 (+20.08)

Walk rate

10%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

169.7256

Pork Ribs · Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off

Consistency

±47.28

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 160.44 · weakest Chicken (155.52)

Road miles

1,863

across 10 mapped stops · furthest 622 mi

Schedule strength

19%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1527)

Purse competed for

$15K

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 2 state-championship entries

Master avg

615.53 / 720

10 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (6 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

A tough matchup

9–1 behind in the head-to-head

LA PASADITA ahead in 90% of their meetings

LA PASADITA has come out ahead in 9 of their 10 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.9 points behind their best meat

Chicken is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.92 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 10%.

Chicken avg 155.52
Pork Ribs avg 160.44
0 calls in 10 entries

A strong matchup

5–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 83% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of THE BREADMAN in 5 of their 6 shared contests.

The comeback

2.2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.2 years, then back at Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-off (Jun 4, 2021).

last seen Apr 5, 2019
back Jun 4, 2021

Pork Ribs nemesis

6 of 10 shared pork ribs entries lost

LA PASADITA ahead 60% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, LA PASADITA has out-cooked them in 6 of 10 shared pork ribs entries.

An April team

Top 51% average finish in April

Something about April: average finish in the top 51% across 4 contests, versus top 69% the rest of the year.

4 April contests
top 69% the rest of the year

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2021 ↗	Master	#1236 (60 pts)	#1286 (60 pts)	#1309 (60 pts)	#1262 (60 pts)	#1245 (60 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#2212 (60 pts)	#2286 (60 pts)	#1641 (155 pts)	#2260 (60 pts)	#2136 (80 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#2274 (60 pts)	#2318 (65 pts)	#2081 (110 pts)	#2090 (105 pts)	#2345 (60 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2127 (65 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2225 (60 pts)	#2141 (70 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1251 (225 pts)	#1323 (225 pts)	#1184 (265 pts)	#1340 (225 pts)	#1199 (255 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to OPEN FLUE BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

165 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

Boss Hog BBQ

#3,948 of the rated field

1484 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1484

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to OPEN FLUE BBQ)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team OPEN FLUE BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 10 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

THREE BRISKETEERS

#3,910 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1508

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to OPEN FLUE BBQ)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 4 years before OPEN FLUE BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 6 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

Yard Sale BBQ

#3,952 of the rated field

1484 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1505

Careers of much the same size, 8 contests to 10, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Jul 11, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI

#3,924 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1485

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 8 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Jan 24, 2020

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKIN' DOUBLE Z BBQ

#3,914 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1503

Level with OPEN FLUE BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Aug 24, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

Chillin n grillin

#3,942 of the rated field

1484 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1484

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 9 contests
last seen Oct 16, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
LA PASADITA	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
Lucky Dawgs' BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
THE BREADMAN	6	5	1	83%	⚔ compare
BUTCHER BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
Smokin Bros	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
LUCILLE'S BBQ	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare
CIRCLE R COOKERS	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
CLARK CREW BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN TRIGGERS	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
BLAZEN BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
JOE'S COOKSHACK	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
BUCKSHOT BBQ - TX	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	10	0	163.9656	144.5256	155.52	top 72%
Pork Ribs	10	1	169.7256	150.2628	160.44	top 52%
Pork	10	0	168.5256	146.8572	158.55	top 62%
Brisket	9	0	164.6172	139.9200	156.68	top 56%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
TX	6	0	top 53%
MO	4	0	top 92%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-off	4	26	0	top 56%	Jun 4, 2021
Cedar Fest BBQ	2	24	0	top 46%	Apr 1, 2016

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 3 contests

Contests a season 1.4 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in TX 6 of 10 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 6 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 994 finished ahead 291 times, behind 1,473

Longest layoff 2.2 yrs Apr 5, 2019 → Jun 4, 2021

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20212 milestones

Jun 4 10th tracked contest Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-off
Jun 4 Most recent contest Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-off

20192 milestones

Apr 5 Career-best overall score643.9428 Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off
Apr 5 Peak power rating (1490) Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off

20172 milestones

Mar 31 First call Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off
Mar 31 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)169.7256 Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off

20131 milestone

Oct 3 First tracked contest 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+5.6	Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off	Mar 31, 2017
+4	Cedar Fest BBQ	Apr 10, 2015
+3.7	Cedar Fest BBQ	Apr 1, 2016
+0.7	Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off	Apr 5, 2019

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-14.6	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open	Oct 3, 2013
-7.8	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open	Oct 2, 2014
-5	Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-off	Jun 4, 2021
-1.9	Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off (Teams Full)	Apr 4, 2014

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2021	1	0%	top 73%	87.8%	87.8%
2019	1	0%	top 54%	89.4%	89.4%
2017	1	100%	top 37%	88.5%	88.5%
2016	1	0%	top 46%	87.9%	87.9%
2015	1	0%	top 45%	87.8%	87.8%
2014	3	0%	top 80%	87%	86.7%
2013	2	0%	top 95%	87.4%	76.7%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 4, 2021	Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-off 🏅 Cedar Park, TX	35 / 48 (632.4800)	37 (156.5600)	38 (155.4172)	32 (163.9656)	29 (156.5372)
Apr 5, 2019	Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Cedar Park, TX	33 / 61 (643.9428)	31 (162.2856)	51 (150.2628)	23 (167.4172)	27 (163.9772)
Mar 31, 2017	Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off Cedar Park, TX	26 / 70 (637.1996)	37 (155.4628)	8 (169.7256)	52 (152.0112)	21 (160)
Apr 1, 2016	Cedar Fest BBQ Cedar Park, TX	31 / 67 (632.5480)	24 (159.9884)	15 (164.5828)	16 (165.1312)	56 (142.8456)
Apr 10, 2015	Cedar Fest BBQ Cedar Park, TX	24 / 53 (631.8972)	33 (158.2632)	25 (160.5372)	33 (155.9656)	23 (157.1312)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	457 / 552 (622.6968)	494 (151.4056)	406 (157.1200)	473 (152.5256)	288 (161.6456)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	159 / 165 (626.0912)	125 (163.9656)	159 (153.6800)	76 (168.5256)	164 (139.9200)
Apr 4, 2014	Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off (Teams Full) Cedar Park, TX	30 / 50 (624.4684)	47 (144.5256)	17 (163.4172)	36 (153.1084)	19 (163.4172)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	529 / 535 (474.7996)	486 (147.3484)	88 (167.4284)	275 (160.0228)	—
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	160 / 174 (629.1660)	164 (155.4172)	101 (162.2744)	172 (146.8572)	86 (164.6172)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

OPEN FLUE BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (6 found in their record)

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

An April team

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)