The Left Right Center rules are short enough to fit on an index card, which is a big part of why the game has stayed popular for decades. Whether you call it LCR, Left Center Right, or just “the dice game with the chips,” the ruleset is identical: three special dice, three chips per player, and a race to be the last person holding a chip. This page is a clean, no-fluff rules reference you can scan in seconds before or during a game.
Unlike a long walkthrough, this article is built to be a quick lookup. You will find the exact rules, a printable-style summary you can copy onto a card, the official winning condition, and the most common variations groups use to keep things interesting. Keep it open on your phone at the table and you will never argue about who passes what.
What You Need
- 3 LCR dice marked with L, C, R, and dots (three dot faces per die).
- 3 chips per player (tokens, coins, or candy).
- 3 or more players.
The Core Rules
Here are the official Left Right Center rules stated as plainly as possible. Each numbered instruction is one rule, in the order it happens during play.
- Deal chips. Give every player three chips to start. The center of the table is the pot and starts empty.
- Roll by chip count. On your turn, roll one die for every chip you hold, up to a maximum of three dice. Hold five chips? You still roll only three.
- Follow the letters. For each L, pass one chip to the player on your left. For each R, pass one chip to the right. For each C, place one chip in the center pot.
- Keep on dots. Every dot rolled means you keep that chip and do nothing with it.
- Pass the dice left. After moving your chips, hand the dice to the player on your left.
- Skip if empty. If you have no chips on your turn, roll nothing and pass the dice, but you stay in the game and can receive chips later.
- Win the pot. When only one player has chips left, that player wins and takes the entire center pot.
Printable-Style Quick Reference
Copy this compact summary onto a card and keep it with your dice. It contains everything a new player needs.
| Rule | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Starting chips | 3 per player |
| Dice to roll | 1 per chip held, max 3 |
| Roll L | Pass 1 chip left |
| Roll R | Pass 1 chip right |
| Roll C | 1 chip to center pot |
| Roll dot / win | Keep chip / last player with chips wins pot |
The Winning Condition, Precisely
Players often get the ending wrong, so here is the exact winning rule. The game continues until it becomes a player’s turn and every other player has zero chips. At that point the game ends immediately, and the player still holding chips wins the entire center pot. A player is never eliminated while any chips remain in circulation, because chips passed left or right can revive a player who was at zero.
Roll one die per chip, capped at three.
Pass chips physically to your actual neighbors.
Let zero-chip players stay in the game.
Award the whole pot to the last chip holder.
Roll three dice when you only hold one chip.
Eliminate players who hit zero chips.
Take chips out of the pot once they land there.
Split the pot unless a house rule says so.
Common Variations
House Rules Groups Use
- Jackpot chip: Add a bonus token to the pot that the winner also claims.
- Bigger banks: Deal four or five chips each to lengthen the game.
- Wild die: Some sets include a wild face that lets you steal a chip from any player.
- Cash stakes: Each chip equals a small money value, and the winner takes the ante. Keep it low and friendly.
Rules Compared to Other References
If you want a longer teaching walkthrough with setup photos and gameplay examples, browse our how-to guides. This page is intentionally kept as a fast rules lookup rather than a full tutorial, so you can settle a dispute mid-game without scrolling through paragraphs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic Left Right Center rules?
Each player starts with three chips and rolls one die per chip, up to three. L passes a chip left, R passes right, C goes to the center pot, and a dot keeps the chip. The last player with chips wins the pot.
How many chips do you start with?
The standard rule is three chips per player. Some house variations start with four or five to make the game last longer, but three is the official count.
Do you roll all three dice every turn?
No. You roll one die for each chip you currently hold, capped at three dice. With one chip you roll one die, with two chips you roll two, and with three or more you roll all three.
What happens when a player has no chips?
They skip rolling and pass the dice, but they are not out. If a neighbor rolls an L or R that sends a chip their way, they rejoin the game on a later turn.
Can the Left Right Center rules be played with regular dice?
Yes. Use three standard dice and assign 1 to left, 2 to right, 3 to center, and 4 through 6 as dots. The gameplay and rules are identical to using official LCR dice.
