I take 3 when I first wake up, along with a teaspoon of glutamine, and a teaspoon of arginine powder, then eat my breakfast about half an hour later.
I also take 3 before I workout, along with 5 grams of glutamine, arginine, and creatine. I don't take any post-workout, because my shake will have 2 scoops of whey, which contain plenty of BCAA.