Learning how to play Left Right Center takes about two minutes, which is exactly why this fast little dice game shows up at family gatherings, tailgates, and late-night game nights. Often written as LCR or Left Center Right, it is a game of pure luck built around three special dice and a small pile of chips. There is no strategy to memorize and no reading ability required, so a six-year-old can beat a table full of adults with a few good rolls.
This full guide walks you through everything from the first setup to claiming the center pot. You will learn what each die face means, how many dice to roll on your turn, when to pass chips left or right, and how the game ends. By the time you finish, you will be able to teach Left Right Center to anyone at the table in under a minute.
What You Need to Play Left Right Center
Left Right Center is designed for three or more players, and it scales comfortably up to a dozen or more if you have enough chips. You need surprisingly little to start.
- Three LCR dice. These are special six-sided dice. Three sides show dots (usually one dot each), and the other three sides are marked L, C, and R.
- Three chips per player. The classic game uses plastic tokens, but poker chips, coins, candy, or even wrapped snacks work just as well.
- A flat surface. A table keeps the dice from rolling away and gives you a clear center for the pot.
If you do not own an official LCR set, you can improvise with three regular dice by assigning values: roll a 1 to pass left, a 2 to pass right, a 3 to put a chip in the center, and treat 4, 5, and 6 as dots (keep the chip). The gameplay is identical.
Setting Up the Game
Setup is where most new players get tripped up, so take it slowly the first time.
- Gather everyone around the table. Seating order matters because chips physically move to the player on your left or right, so make sure everyone knows who their neighbors are.
- Give each player exactly three chips. Every player starts equal, no matter how many people are playing.
- Leave the center empty. The middle of the table is the pot, and it starts with nothing in it.
- Decide who goes first. The traditional method is to have everyone roll one die; the highest roller (or the first to roll an L) starts. After that, play moves to the left.
- Confirm the die faces. Before the first real turn, remind everyone what L, C, R, and the dots mean so there is no confusion mid-game.
How to Take a Turn
A turn in Left Right Center is quick. The key rule that trips people up is that the number of dice you roll depends on how many chips you currently have.
Step-by-Step Gameplay
- Count your chips. Roll one die for each chip you hold, up to a maximum of three dice. If you have five chips, you still roll only three.
- Read each die. Every die tells you what to do with one chip.
- Act on the letters. For each L, pass a chip to the player on your left. For each R, pass a chip to the player on your right. For each C, place a chip in the center pot. That chip is out of play for the rest of the game.
- Keep chips on dots. For every dot you roll, you keep that chip and do nothing with it.
- Pass the dice. Once you have moved all the required chips, hand the dice to the player on your left, and their turn begins.
Here is the part that keeps the game moving fast: if you have zero chips when your turn comes around, you do not roll at all. You simply pass the dice along. But you are not eliminated. If a neighbor passes you a chip on a later turn, you are right back in the game.
3 or more chips: roll all 3 dice.
2 chips: roll 2 dice.
1 chip: roll 1 die.
0 chips: roll nothing and pass the dice.
L: pass one chip to your left.
R: pass one chip to your right.
C: put one chip in the center pot.
Dot: keep the chip, do nothing.
Reading the Dice at a Glance
The table below sums up every possible outcome for a single die so you can teach the game without repeating yourself.
| Die face | Action | Chip destination |
|---|---|---|
| L | Pass left | Player on your left |
| R | Pass right | Player on your right |
| C | Center | The pot (out of play) |
| Dot | Keep | Stays with you |
| Three dots | Keep all | You hold everything |
How to Win Left Right Center
The goal is simple: be the last player holding at least one chip. As chips flow to the center pot over the course of the game, the total number of chips in players’ hands shrinks. Eventually only one player has any chips left. That player wins and takes the entire center pot.
Because a player with zero chips can be handed a chip by a neighbor, the game can swing back and forth several times before it truly ends. Nobody is ever permanently out until the very last chip is claimed. The moment it is one player’s turn and every other player has zero chips, the game is over and that final player scoops the pot.
Common Variations
Left Right Center is flexible, and most groups pick up a house rule or two. If you want a deeper look at rule tweaks and printable summaries, our how-to guides collection covers game references in detail. A few popular variations include:
- Wild center: The player who rolls the final chip into the center can win a jackpot pot if house rules add a bonus.
- Higher chip counts: Start with four or five chips each for a longer game with a bigger pot.
- Team play: Split into pairs and combine winnings for a cooperative twist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players do you need for Left Right Center?
You need at least three players. There is no real upper limit, though most sets are designed for three to twelve. The more players you have, the longer the game usually runs and the bigger the center pot grows.
What do the LCR dice look like?
Each LCR die is a standard six-sided cube with three faces marked L, C, and R, and three faces showing a single dot. You roll up to three of these dice per turn depending on how many chips you hold.
Can you win if you run out of chips?
Yes. Running out of chips does not eliminate you. A player to your left or right can pass you a chip on their turn, putting you back in play. You are only truly out once the game ends with another player holding the last chips.
How long does a game of Left Right Center take?
A single round usually lasts five to fifteen minutes depending on the number of players and starting chips. Its short length is part of the appeal, since you can play several quick rounds back to back.
Is there any skill involved in Left Right Center?
No. Left Right Center is a game of pure chance. Every outcome is decided by the dice, which makes it perfect for mixed-age groups where players of any skill level have an equal shot at winning.
