Chouette

Chouette is a variation of backgammon that allows for more than two players, and offers many advantages to those playing in backgammon clubs. There are many variants to the rules for chouette, as they can be different from organization to organization.

Order of play: Each player starts by throwing one die (in the event of a tie there is a re-roll). The player who rolls highest becomes the box and plays against all the others, who form a team. The second highest roller becomes the captain of the team. The captain then rolls the dice and makes the plays for the team.

Should the box win a game, he collects from each member of the team, and the captain goes to the back of the line and the next player on the team becomes the captain. Should the team win, the box pays off each team member, then goes to the back of the line and the captain becomes the new box. Players may leave or join a chouette at any time, but new players must start at the bottom of the rotation.

Consultation: In some chouettes players may consult freely as to how rolls should be played, while others forbid consultation. Typically, most allow consultation only after the cube has been turned.

Single cube games: A chouette can be played with either a single doubling cube or multiple cubes. In the single-cube game, the only decision that the team members make individually concerns the takes. Should the box double, each team member can decide on his/her own whether to play on or drop out. Players who drop out each pay off to the box and can no longer participate as team advisers. If the captain drops out while there are other team members who wish to play, the captaincy is assumed by the next in line and the previous captain drops to the bottom of the rotation.

When only one player takes: In chouettes of five or more it is common to have a rule that if all the other team members want to reject the box's initial double, the single holdout must drop as well, which prevents a majority of the players not having an interest in the remainder of the game.

Mandatory extras: When a single player accepts the box's initial double he/she is obliged to accept an extra 2-cube from any team member who wants to pay him one point. The receiver of an "extra" owns multiple cubes which he/she may use individually to redouble, and which he/se will eventually pay on or collect from.

Multiple cube games: Most modern chouettes use multiple cubes, and each team member has his/her own doubling cube. The box may double the individual team members, and each team member can decide whether and when to double the box. This makes it possible for the box to win against some players while losing against others. The player retains the box if he defeats the captain.

Partner for the box: Chouettes of upwards of eight players often will permit the box to take a partner, which is offered in rotation, starting with the captain and moving down the line. If no one wants to be the box's partner, a partner is chosen by lot from amongst team members other than the captain.