Backgammon for three people?

PipCount · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 16

I like to play backgammon with my husband and our son. We like to alternate so that two of us play and then the winner plays the third person. We were talking the other night about how it would be nice if there were a backgammon game for three people so that we could all play at the same time. I didn’t think there was any such game, but I figured it doesn’t hurt to ask. Does anyone know if there is a backgammon game that I can play with my husband and my son at the same time? Thanks in advance.

Rail · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 24

Actually, there IS a backgammon game that you can play with your son and your husband. It’s called backgammon chouette play and it’s a method for playing backgammon that allows multiple people to play the game at the same time.

In chouette, one person plays against all the rest. In your case, you may play against your son and your husband. The player who plays against the rest of the players is called the box, while the other players are referred to as the team. On the team one person is called the captain. The captain makes all the checker moves for the team. Each member has his or her own doubling cube that they can use against the box.

If the captain loses the game then he or she goes to the end of the line of the team. If the game is won then the captain becomes the box and the box moves to the end of the line.

Some people play by the no consultation rule, which means that the team cannot discuss the moves that the captain makes before they have doubled. However, when you play with your son and your husband you may choose to allow team players to consult with each other so that all three of you can be involved in the game.

Chouette-style backgammon is designed to be played by large numbers of players but you can play with three too. If you are the box and your son is the team captain and your husband is on the team then if you lose the game your son becomes the box, your husband becomes the team captain and you become the other team member. If you win the game then your husband and son switch positions until they beat you.

Chouette can be a lot of fun. I hope you guys enjoy it!