Using the mandatory beaver rule

First it is necessary to understand the definition of a beaver Chouette move. A beaver Chouette move is used in the money play version of the backgammon Chouette game. But it is never used in tournament play due to the restrictions it imposes.

If an opponent doubles and another player believes that they are the favourite in that particular call, then the accepting player can call beaver. With the use of the beaver Chouette move the cube is turned to double the amount, with the accepting player calling beaver retaining control of the cube.

The mandatory beaver rule comes into play if the box doubles during the game, and the entire field rejects the double except for one player. In this scenario the mandatory beaver rule stipulates that the accepting players must then choose to either beaver or reject as well. The idea behind the rule is that the game is kept to a decent pace. It is not prohibited or slowed by a player that is playing differently to the rest of his team.

The mandatory beaver rule often comes up against opposition as it is considered by many Chouette players to be an unfair rule which forces an unnatural decision upon a player. It has also been suggested that this mandatory beaver Chouette move can aid collusion, although there has been no evidence to prove this. Other Chouette players counteract this argument by stating that the pace and enjoyment of the game are maintained.

As with any rule variation, the mandatory beaver rule is an optional extra, and so always check the rules of the backgammon Chouette game before joining in to make sure you get the most enjoyment possible.