Step-by-step instructions
List everyone taking part
Enter one unique person per line. Resolve absences before generating rather than leaving a missing participant in a pair.
Agree on the odd-number rule
An even roster forms pairs. An odd roster forms pairs plus one trio, and three people form a single trio.
Make and share the pairings
Select Make pairs, check that everyone appears once, and copy the partner list before leaving the page.
Worked example
Nine people are joining an activity. The example should produce three pairs and one trio, accounting for all nine participants.
One valid result is shown below. Your generated outcome will vary.
Example input
Alex Jamie Morgan Taylor Sam Jordan Casey Riley Drew
Example result
Pair 1 1. Morgan 2. Casey Pair 2 1. Riley 2. Sam Pair 3 1. Alex 2. Taylor Trio 4 1. Jordan 2. Drew 3. Jamie
The trio is intentional: three groups of two plus one group of three total nine. No name is dropped to force all groups to be pairs.
Adapt the activity for three people
A trio may need a different speaking rotation or an additional observer role. Explain that arrangement before the draw rather than making one member feel like an extra person. When exactly two participants are required for each match, the built-in trio is not the appropriate rule; agree on a bye and pair the remaining roster separately.
Settings and limits to check
The example has 9 retained entries. The partner tool shuffles the names and groups them into twos, using one trio when necessary. It does not track previous rounds or prevent selected people from being matched. Different spellings of the same participant remain different entries. A fresh draw can repeat an earlier partnership, so use a separate record when every round must have new partners.
Settings used in this example
Remove duplicate entries: On
Keep a usable copy of the result
Use Copy to place the current result in your own notes, or Download to keep a text file. Keep the eligible input list with the result when you need to explain which entries took part. A new generation replaces the displayed result rather than adding to a saved history.
The tool runs in your browser and does not upload your input. Save the result before refreshing or leaving the page. If other people need to use the same outcome, share your saved copy rather than asking them to generate another independent result.
Frequently asked questions
What happens with only three people?
All three form one trio. There is not enough attendance for both a pair and a separate inclusive group.
Can I leave one person unpaired instead of making a trio?
The tool uses a trio to include everyone. If your activity needs a bye, agree on it separately and pair the remaining even roster.
Can I exclude particular pairings?
There are no partner exclusions. Handle restrictions separately or use a process designed for those constraints.
What should I check in the worked example?
The trio is intentional: three groups of two plus one group of three total nine. No name is dropped to force all groups to be pairs.