# How to Play Left Right Center (LCR): Rules for the Dice Game

Learn Left Right Center in two minutes: roll three special dice, pass chips left, right or to the centre, and be the last player holding chips. Easy party rules.

Source: https://pips.club/left-right-center

- Players: 3 to 10
- Dice: 3 special dice and 3 chips each
- Type: Chance
- Level: Easy
- Time: 10 to 20 minutes

## At a glance

### Pass the chips, last one standing wins

Left Right Center, also called LCR, is a game of pure luck for a group. Everyone starts with three chips. On your turn you roll special dice that tell you to pass a chip to the left, to the right, or into the middle of the table.
The last player who still has chips wins everything in the middle.

## Setup

### Three dice and three chips each

You need three special dice and three chips for every player (coins or tokens will do). Each die has the letters L, C and R on three faces and three plain dots on the other three. Three to ten people can play.

## The first roll

### Who goes first

The youngest player goes first, or everyone rolls one die and the highest dot count or letter goes first. Play then moves to the left.
Everyone starts with three chips.

## A turn

### One die for each chip

On your turn you roll one die for each chip you have, but never more than three. Start with three chips and you roll all three dice.

### What each face means

L: pass one chip to the player on your left.
R: pass one chip to the player on your right.
C: put one chip in the middle, in the centre pot.
Dot: keep your chip.

### Roll and pass

You roll L, a dot and C. The L sends one chip to West on your left. The C puts one chip in the middle. The dot lets you keep one chip.
You started with three chips and have one left. West now has four.

## No chips

### No chips? You are still in

With fewer chips you roll fewer dice: two chips, two dice; one chip, one die. With no chips you do not roll, but you are not out. A neighbour may roll a letter that passes you a chip, and then you are back in the game.

## The pot

### The pot in the middle

Every chip that goes in the middle stays there, out of play. They make up the pot. Keep an eye on it: the fewer chips left in play, the sooner the game ends.

## Winning

### Last player with chips wins

When only one player has any chips left, that player wins the game and takes the pot. That may be you after just one chip, however few you have.

## Variants and house rules

- **Wild**: Some versions have a wild face that lets you take a chip from any player or from the middle. Agree it before you start.
- **Real stakes**: Play for coins or tokens. The pot goes to the winner.
- **Regular dice**: Count 1 as L, 2 as C, 3 as R and 4 to 6 as dots.

## Tips

- There is nothing to decide, so keep it moving. Call out each roll and pass chips straight away.
- Stay at the table when you are down to zero chips. It is not unusual for the last player to come back from nothing.
- Use the same chips for everyone so that you can tell at a glance how many each player has.

## Quick answers

**How do you win Left Right Center?** Be the last player with chips. When everyone else has none, you win and collect the centre pot.

**How many dice do you roll in LCR?** One for each chip you hold, up to three. With one chip you roll one die, and with no chips you do not roll at all.

**Are you out of the game when you have no chips?** No. You stay in the game and pass the dice along. A neighbour can roll an L or R that gives you a chip, and then you roll again.

**What do the three dots on the dice do?** Nothing: a dot means you keep your chip. Each die has L, C and R once, and three dots.

**Can you play LCR with regular dice?** Yes. Say 1 is L, 2 is C and 3 is R, and 4, 5 and 6 are dots. It plays exactly the same.