How attempt selection works
Work backwards from the third. Your opener should be a weight you could triple on a bad day — about 90% of the goal third. The second sits around 95%, close enough that a good second tells you the third is on. The third is the goal. Every attempt must go up (federations don't let you take a lighter weight), so a missed opener means repeating it, not dropping it.
- Conservative — 87 / 93 / 100%. First meet, long weigh-in-to-platform gap, or a lift that's been shaky in training. Build the total, then push.
- Standard — 90 / 95 / 100%. The ladder most experienced lifters run, and the one Loaded's War Room suggests after a made attempt.
- Aggressive — 93 / 97 / 100%. Smaller jumps when the opener is a sure thing and you need the total.
What should the goal third be?
A realistic meet third is your best recent gym single, not a projected max. If you only have a 1RM estimate from reps, plan the third at about 95–97% of it — meet-day conditions (commands, a pause on bench, waiting on the platform) cost a little. The output snaps to 2.5 kg jumps, the smallest increment most federations allow.
Changing attempts on the day
The plan is a starting point. After a smooth opener, take the planned second; after a grind, repeat the opener's jump or go smaller. After the second, you usually have about one minute to declare the third — decide the two options (made / missed) before you walk out. Once you've picked your openers, build the warm-up room with the warm-up calculator and check what your total would score with the DOTS calculator.