I know this all seems confusing but you catch on very quickly , after a while you will speak the shorthand too!!
From AKC 's Points and Division Schedule
"Any dog which shall have won fifteen points shall become a Champion of Record, if six or more of said points shall have been won at two shows with a rating of three or more championship points each and under two different judges, and some one or more of the balance of said points shall have been won under some other judge or judges than the two judges referred to above. "
Then you would go to the superintendent's site and look up your breed count AFTER entries have closed and been posted.
At the Jackson, Mississippi show next week we will hopefully have the following count on Saturday in RRS
29 RHORIDGE 11-16- 0-1
This seems confusing too I know, but trust me... it isn't , 11 dogs ( all ages unfinished) 16 bitches ( again all ages unfinished) 0 Champion Males and 1 Champion Female So from puppies of 6 months to whatever age as long as it is unfinished it will be in your competition.
Back to your AKC schedule... this is what Mississippi requires...
1 POINT 2 POINTS 3 POINTS 4 POINTS 5 POINTS
Dogs Bitches Dogs Bitches Dogs Bitches Dogs Bitches Dogs Bitches
Rhodesian Ridgebacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 6 6 9 10 11 14 16 21
IF everyone shows up it is a 4 point major for males and 5 pointer for females !!!
It is a lot more simple than Cricket rules, ( That is one truly confusing game!!) If only 15 girls show up then it becomes a 4 point major, if only10 males you drop to a 3 pointer this is why Showing up when you enter is so darn important. People will be driving from Texas for the weekend and all of us want a Major ( or 2) for our babies....
When circumstances happen and you can't make it , The courteous thing to do is let folks know. If our 5 point major dropped to under a 3 pointer than folks putting nearly 600 miles one way on their vehicle would be really appreciative of the chance to save some serious money if they only need majors. Also and this is a personal choice, I never move my finished dogs up during a show weekend unless I know there is a healthy surplus of dogs competing and I will not be breaking a major. It is for most of us equally crummy to show up , for example this is a 4 day show, on Thursday , pick up an elusive point and finish your dog then turn around and move them up possibly breaking the major for others. You can wait until you are sure of the attendance and count and move up if you want to. In many breeds a younger dog who finishes at under 18 months may need to wait a bit before taking on the Specials. They lack the body and maturity to make it a slam dunk. When they finish ( acquire all of the points needed to become a champion) you may choose to move them into the Best of Breed ring OR you may opt to let them stay home for a bit , grow up and dabble in the ring to keep his paw in so to speak... Some judges love young dogs and have zero issue putting them up against seasoned champions. Others barely hide their amusement or annoyance.. it is all up to you.
And a big BTW the reason for the above inforamtion is simple many, many of us have had dogs finish not with the required 15 points. But with a LOT more... why?? Majors breaking and then you take the win , you did not want of need the 1 or 2 points that you took but they are added in to the dog's total never the less. Some times you gamble the judge will cross your dog over and give you the other sex' s points but that is another post for a different time. Suffice it to say it is perfectly acceptable. Just well "messier"so to speak. 
To check the AKC Points and Division schedule go to http://www.akc.org/pdfs/events/conformation/point_schedule/2008/division4.pdf
Bonita of Bwana