Backgammon Chouettes

Chouettes

When does player retain the box?

From:   Daniel Murphy
Address:   raccoon@best.com
Date:   31 January 1997
Subject:   Re: chouette rules ?
Forum:   rec.games.backgammon
Google:   rlogin.854737809@shellx

> I know there are various rules for chouette play and the best thing > when starting one is to discuss rules every time so there won't be a > misunderstanding. Are there any rules which are good and don't make > things confusing? > > For example, is the game between the Box and the Captain the game that > decides who becomes the Box next game? If the Box doubles and the > Captain doesn't accept but there is a player who accepts and then wins, > is the Box still the Box next game, or is it the player next in line to > be the Box? > > My opinion is the game between the Box and the Captain must be > conclusive, otherwise it leads to a situation where the Box must accept > every cube just to keep his chair. 1. Chouette is social backgammon. Regardless of the stakes involved, players should, as you note, agree in advance on rules which are comfortable for *them*. 2. There are no, and I suspect there never will be, 'worldwide chouette rules' that everyone 'should' follow. However, rules have common variations which affect the chouette's (a) sociability; (b) equity and protection of good/average/bad players; and (c) speed of the game. You probably want to be aware of different possible rules and how they might affect *you* in your chouette. 3. See Inside Backgammon (v.4, no. 4 (July-August 1995) for a discussion of *some* chouette rule variations. 4. Your specific question, if I may rephrase it, was: Q. In a chouette with multiple cubes, can a player remain in the Box if he doubles, the Captain drops, and the Box subsequently loses the game to a player who takes? A. That depends on your rule :). Variations include: (i) A player retains the Box if he wins the game (bears off the last man first, or ends the game with a double which all remaining players drop). (ii) A player retains the Box if he wins the game and defeats the Captain. (iii) A player retains the Box if he defeats the Captain, regardless of the result against other players. (iv) A player retains the Box if he shows an overall profit in the game, regardless of whether the Box wins or loses the game. (v) A player retains the Box if he wins the game and [shows a profit] [breaks even or shows a profit]. (vi) The Box retains the Box if he defeats at least half the players. You seem to be in agreement with rule (iii), which, in his article, Bill Robertie states is the most popular. I've never seen that rule used. In my experience, rules (v), (i), (ii) and (iv) are most common. My own preference is for rule (i) or (ii). Daniel Murphy San Francisco raccoon@cityraccoon.com

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