Know what a full rotation actually covers
Pair coverage and the number of rounds are linked.
Everyone meets everyone, once
A full single round-robin pairs each distinct pair of participants exactly once. With eight people, there are 8×7÷2 = 28 different conversations. Four happen in each round, so seven rounds cover the full set.
Why odd counts need a pause
With seven people, only three pairs can talk at once. The remaining person has a scheduled pause. A full seven-round rotation contains 21 conversations, and each person has six conversations plus one pause. The pause moves through the roster rather than leaving one person unassigned throughout.
A short plan is still useful
If you choose only three of the seven rounds, no pair repeats, but not everyone meets everyone. The coverage report shows the number of distinct pairs actually planned beside the total possible. In an odd roster, some people may have had their pause while others have not; full-cycle balance should not be claimed for a partial plan.
PairCircuit uses one circle-method rotation after a seeded initial shuffle. It does not repeat cycles to fill extra rounds. Requests beyond a single full rotation are rejected, so a “no repeats” label never quietly turns into a repeated schedule.