From 1974 onwards, it involves only two clubs who determine the third possible promotion spot to the Bundesliga.

When the Bundesliga was formed in 1963, the German Football Association established five regional second divisions below it, the Regionalligas, these being: Because the boundaries of these five leagues went along historical lines, determined by the boundaries of the five German sub-federations, the playing strength of the leagues was not equal.

The number of teams from each Regionalliga qualified for this event was not equal, for the above-mentioned reason.

From 1963, the first two teams in each Regionalliga was qualified for the promotion round, except from Berlin, who would only send the champions.

To reduce the number of clubs from nine to eight, a home-and-away decider was played between two of the runners-ups.

The eight teams would then play a home-and-away round in two groups of four with the winners qualified for the Bundesliga.

[1] The Bundesliga follows its own past example[2] as well as the one set by the English Premier League, French Ligue 1, and Italian Serie A, where these games are in place too and quite popular.