How to Play Chouette Backgammon
Chouette is a variation of traditional backgammon that involves three or more players. It utilizes the same basic rules of backgammon but with certain variations designed to allow multiple players. Chouette style backgammon pits one player, known as the Box, against a team of other players, led by the Captain.
To start the game, all players throw one dice. The player who throws the highest roll will play as the Box. The second highest roll will be the Captain and the rest of the players are decided based on their rolls in descending order. If two players roll the same number, each player rolls their die again until the proper order is decided. Between games, new players can join in with the acceptance of those already at the board. The newest player is always moved to the bottom of the order though.
The game begins with the Box facing the Captain and the Team. Each player on the team is assigned one cube, so there are multiple doubling cubes in each game. The Box can thus use the doubling cube against any of his opposition to make them drop or take. When the Box decides to double, each player on the team must make their decision, but in descending order, starting with the captain.
Because there is only one Box and there are multiple opponents, doubling cubes can all have different values throughout the game. If the Box is doubled and he decides to drop or if a team member drops, the game continues until a winner is declared, regardless of who is dropped from the game. The losing players must wait patiently and refrain from discussing the game or interfering until the game is over.
The Captain is given leave to discuss with any team members how to move the checkers, though the doubling cube is to be handled only by the player associated with each cube. Additionally, the Captain is given all control over the movement of the checkers on the board. While the rest of the teams offers advice and their input, only the captain may move the checkers on the board. He is also the only player to roll the dice and team mates are required to double before the dice are rolled. If the Captain rolls before all cubes are on the table, the roll does not count and must be re-rolled.
The Box remains in the box until he loses and then is placed at the bottom of the order on the team. He plays for points against all players on the opposition and is only replaced by the Captain of the opposite team after he has lost. Everyone then moves up one rank, with the second highest ranking player on the team becoming the captain. When the Captain and the team lose a game, the Captain is moved to the bottom of the order as well. Every game, there is a new Captain for the team. If the Captain drops their cube at some point during the game, they are replaced by the next highest ranking player.
The score should be kept by an impartial observer or by a team member who is lower in rank. It should be made viewable to all players and should be reviewed by all players between each game. Players should record the points from dropped cubes as they happen to avoid confusion or miscalculations as the game progresses.
Chouette Variations
There are a variety of extra rules that can be decided on by the players before the game begins. These variations are most often optional.
Before anyone starts playing, the exact rules and the nature of betting should be agreed upon. In the case of Money Play, a lack of clarity on the rules can result in substantial disagreements and problems and can even nullify your bets with each other.
The limitation of consulting in Chouette Backgammon is usually only good for the best players. Anyone who is trying to learn how to play backgammon or chouette will likely want to keep consulting rights wide open so that advice can be freely offered at all times.
For groups of Backgammon enthusiasts interested in playing with larger sums of people Chouette offers a chance to stretch the game and create an entirely new experience. Make sure you understand the rules very well before beginning though, as any confusion can result in a complicated mess. The doubling cubes especially are important aspects of Chouette and can result in many problems if not properly cared for.
To start the game, all players throw one dice. The player who throws the highest roll will play as the Box. The second highest roll will be the Captain and the rest of the players are decided based on their rolls in descending order. If two players roll the same number, each player rolls their die again until the proper order is decided. Between games, new players can join in with the acceptance of those already at the board. The newest player is always moved to the bottom of the order though.
The game begins with the Box facing the Captain and the Team. Each player on the team is assigned one cube, so there are multiple doubling cubes in each game. The Box can thus use the doubling cube against any of his opposition to make them drop or take. When the Box decides to double, each player on the team must make their decision, but in descending order, starting with the captain.
Because there is only one Box and there are multiple opponents, doubling cubes can all have different values throughout the game. If the Box is doubled and he decides to drop or if a team member drops, the game continues until a winner is declared, regardless of who is dropped from the game. The losing players must wait patiently and refrain from discussing the game or interfering until the game is over.
The Captain is given leave to discuss with any team members how to move the checkers, though the doubling cube is to be handled only by the player associated with each cube. Additionally, the Captain is given all control over the movement of the checkers on the board. While the rest of the teams offers advice and their input, only the captain may move the checkers on the board. He is also the only player to roll the dice and team mates are required to double before the dice are rolled. If the Captain rolls before all cubes are on the table, the roll does not count and must be re-rolled.
The Box remains in the box until he loses and then is placed at the bottom of the order on the team. He plays for points against all players on the opposition and is only replaced by the Captain of the opposite team after he has lost. Everyone then moves up one rank, with the second highest ranking player on the team becoming the captain. When the Captain and the team lose a game, the Captain is moved to the bottom of the order as well. Every game, there is a new Captain for the team. If the Captain drops their cube at some point during the game, they are replaced by the next highest ranking player.
The score should be kept by an impartial observer or by a team member who is lower in rank. It should be made viewable to all players and should be reviewed by all players between each game. Players should record the points from dropped cubes as they happen to avoid confusion or miscalculations as the game progresses.
Chouette Variations
There are a variety of extra rules that can be decided on by the players before the game begins. These variations are most often optional.
- Players can choose to require that all players must first double or accept their cubes before they are able to consult on the board. If a player never doubles, they are disallowed from participating during the game.
- Players can object to any illegal play witnessed even if they are disallowed from consultation during a game. This is a common rule to keep illegal play from disrupting the game.
- Auto doubling is a common rule used in money games to raise the stakes through chance. However, in Chouette Backgammon, there is a special variation. The Box is allowed to decide if this is the case and the cubes’ values are increased with the rolling of doubles. If doubles are rolled twice at the beginning of the game, the Box can decide to carry one over to the next game.
- Players can elect to allow the selling of cubes within a game. This would mean that if a player drops their cube and is removed from the game while another player takes and continues to play, they can sell their cube for half of its value in points to the remaining players to use as a second cube. In this case, the dropped player joins with the Box in essence, though it does not allow them the right to consult.
- In the single cube variation, only one cube is used between all players and all decisions on doubling are decided by buying and selling the cube between players. In the end only the Captain and Box can double, but the other players can get highly involved.
- In some variations, the Box can choose to take a partner. This is especially true if there are too many players to keep track of for just the team. The same rules apply for both sides, and the Box and his partner are given each a cube for every member on the Team. This means that if there are four players on the team, there will be 8 doubling cubes on the table. If the Box loses at any point, the partner is promoted to the Box. If the Box continues to win, both players remain put.
- There are numerous other variations in the methods of betting, trading, selling, and buying of cubes in Chouette Backgammon. Largely they depend on how many players are involved and what the stakes are.
- Often, the Jacoby Rule is in effect for Chouette, requiring that doubling cubes be used before a gammon or backgammon is allowed to count for two or three points. This decreases the misuse and protraction of the game to achieve a gammon or backgammon.
- If there is a fractional point due to selling or buying of points with doubling cubes, the difference will be decided by two players rolling extra dice after the game is over. The player with the highest total is given the fractional point added to their total.
- Players on the team may leave the game for a short while and appoint a proxy to take their place and control their cube. The proxy can be anyone involved in the game, even those players who have already dropped. The Captain acts as an automatic proxy if no one else is available.
Before anyone starts playing, the exact rules and the nature of betting should be agreed upon. In the case of Money Play, a lack of clarity on the rules can result in substantial disagreements and problems and can even nullify your bets with each other.
The limitation of consulting in Chouette Backgammon is usually only good for the best players. Anyone who is trying to learn how to play backgammon or chouette will likely want to keep consulting rights wide open so that advice can be freely offered at all times.
For groups of Backgammon enthusiasts interested in playing with larger sums of people Chouette offers a chance to stretch the game and create an entirely new experience. Make sure you understand the rules very well before beginning though, as any confusion can result in a complicated mess. The doubling cubes especially are important aspects of Chouette and can result in many problems if not properly cared for.
