Classic backgammon is a duel: two players, 30 checkers and a pair of dice. But game nights rarely come in pairs. If you have three people around the table, you have three good options: a dedicated three-player backgammon board, a chouette on a standard board, or a simple "winner stays on" rotation. Here is how each one works.
Option 1: a three-sided board made for three players
The most social way to play is a board designed for three. Our three-player backgammon sets are carved as a special three-sided board, a design devised in 2007 by Nerses Nersesyan. Instead of two armies facing each other, three armies share the board at once.
- Players: three, each playing for themselves.
- Checkers: 15 per player in white, black and red, 45 in total. Our sets include 48 checkers in beech and walnut.
- Goal: the same as in classic backgammon: the first player to bring all of their checkers home and bear them off wins.
If you already know the classic game, you will feel at home quickly: you still move by the dice and race to bear off all of your checkers first. What changes is the dynamic. With two opponents instead of one, every move has to take two players into account. Agree on any house rules before the first roll.
Choosing a three-player board
- 30 cm: the most compact and affordable option, easy to store.
- 40 cm: a comfortable middle size for everyday play.
- 50 cm: the most room for three players' checkers, and the carving shows best.
Designs range from Armenian ornaments and symbols such as apricot, pomegranate and grapes to walnut boards with epoxy resin inlays and plain boards. Every set comes with checkers, dice and a branded carry case, and we can engrave a name, date or short wish inside the board free of charge.
Option 2: a chouette on a standard backgammon board
Backgammon clubs have a long-standing format for three or more players on an ordinary two-player board, called a chouette. One player, the box, plays alone against everyone else, who form a team.
- Everyone rolls a die. The highest roll becomes the box, the second highest becomes the captain of the team, and the rest line up behind the captain.
- The captain rolls the dice and moves the team's checkers. Whether teammates may advise the captain is a house rule: some groups allow open discussion, others don't.
- If the box wins, the box stays on; the captain moves to the back of the line and the next teammate becomes captain.
- If the team wins, the captain becomes the new box, and the old box joins the back of the line.
Experienced groups often give every team member their own doubling cube, so the box can win against some players and lose against others in the same game. For a casual evening, keep score in points and leave the cube out.
Option 3: "winner stays on"
The simplest solution needs no special rules at all: two people play a normal game while the third watches, and the winner stays at the board to face the next challenger. Play short matches, for example first to three points, so nobody waits too long. It is also a good way to teach a newcomer, who can watch a game or two before taking a seat. Our backgammon rules for beginners cover everything a new player needs.
Three-player chess, too
The same idea works for chess. Our three-player chess sets use a special three-sided board with 16 pieces per player in white, black and red, 48 pieces in total, so three friends can play one game together. You will find them in the same three-player collection.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play backgammon with 3 players?
Yes. Standard backgammon is a two-player game, but three people can play on a three-sided board made for three players, in a chouette (one player against a team of two), or by taking turns with "winner stays on".
How many checkers does each player have in three-player backgammon?
On our three-sided boards each player has 15 checkers, the same as in classic backgammon, in white, black or red: 45 checkers in play in total.
Who wins a game of three-player backgammon?
The first player to bear off all 15 of their checkers wins.
Is three-player backgammon good for beginners?
Yes, especially for families. If one player already knows the classic game, they can explain the basics as you go, and the shared board keeps everyone at the table involved.
Ready to set up a three-player game night? Browse our three-player backgammon and chess sets, or see all handmade backgammon sets.
