This is another 3/4 court game but unlike the previous game that can accommodate 4 or at a pinch even more players, this one it can only be played by 3. For this game each rear quarter is occupied by a different player and the third player stand on the T.

The game is started by one of the rear players, let’s say the right-hand quarter player A, delivering a boast serve from behind the service box. This will take the forward player B who is receiving the service from the T to move up the court to return it.

The boast service can be returned anywhere in the front half of the court (for instance a straight drop to the front left-hand corner) and the server continues in the rally.  Effectively players A and B are engaged in a normal 3/4 court as described in the previous game. In this case the 3/4 court is all the front half plus the right-hand rear quarter from where the boast serve was played at the beginning. If a player hits the ball first bounce into the rear left-hand quarter (where player C is waiting patiently) the ball is out, the player takes a penalty point and moves to the forward position to receive the next boast serve that will initiates the next rally. The rally winner takes the rear quarter vacated by the rally loser. If player A who received the boast serve loses the rally, they remain the forward player who receives the next boast serve and adds 1 penalty point to their score. The general rule is that the player who loses a rally either remains or becomes the forward player to receive the next boast serve and adds 1 penalty point to their score.

The next serve is from the other rear quarter, in this case a boast serve from behind the left-hand service box by the player C. The forward player (A or B depending on who won the previous rally) returns the serve but his time the ball is played anywhere in the front half or the rear left-hand quarter and the server, C, engages the forward player in normal 3/4 court game. This continues until the rally breaks down. If the ball is played into the other rear quarter first bounce the ball is out. If the receiver of the serve loses the rally they stay forward for the next serve (this time from the right-hand quarter) and adds a penalty point to their score. If the server loses the rally they take the forward position and the winning player takes their rear quarter position.

So boast serve alternate from either rear quarter and each rally takes place in the 3/4 court comprising the front half and the rear quarter from which the serve was delivers. Rally losers take the forward, service receiver, position and add a penalty point to their score. The game continues until an agreed penalty score is achieved by one of the players, say 7, 9 or 11.

More demanding variant. The game can be played pretty well exactly as described above but the initial forward player, the one that receives and returns the boast serve, plays full court while the 2 players in the rear quarters can only play 3/4 court – the front half and the quarter from which they deliver their boast serve. While the service receiver chooses to rally only in the front half and the server’s rear quarter they are playing a 3/4 game. If the server plays the ball first bounce into the opposite rear quarter the ball is out and she loses the rally. However, at any time they wish, the player who received the serve can play into the other rear quarter. In this case the ball is not out but the other player occupying that quarter is brought into the game. The game is now a 3/4 court game comprising the front half and the other rear quarter. Again the rallies remain in this 3/4 configuration until the initial service receiver chooses (or accidentally!) hits the ball into the other rear quarter at which point the player occupying it is engaged in a 3/4 court game comprising the front half and his rear quarter. And so the game proceeds with the 2 players at the back playing 3/4 court against the player who received the serve who can play, at will, anywhere in the full court.

The players who are restricted have to be very observant and quick to react to any shots played by the service receiver that bounce close the the centre line between the 2 rear quarters. Depending on which side of the line the ball bounces is which player is now in the rally and which 3/4 court they are restricted to.

So, in summary, this is a 3/4 court game that alternates the 3/4 configuration (all the front of the court + right-hand rear quarter or all the front + left-hand rear quarter) according to which rear quarter the serve is played from.In addition the 3/4 court configuration  can be switched at any time by the player who received the serve by playing into either of the rear quarters at any time and without penalty. Effectively this means the service receiver is playing full court but the players against him when engaged in a rally are restricted to ‘their’ 3/4 court. This document need a video!