Dominoes is a classic trick-taking game played with tiles known as “dominoes”. Learning how to play dominoes and domino rules is simple and fun for players of all age groups. The dominoes gameplay is similar to matching card games, such as Rummy, Classic Memory, and many more.
If you have never played this game, I have compiled this quick guide on how to play dominoes along with the major dominoes rules and winning strategy.
Basic Dominoes Game Rules
Dominoes rules are easy to understand and follow. Here are the essential Dominoes game rules you must know before you start playing:
- According to the dominoes rules, players who do not have a valid tile in their hand cannot make the next play. They can either pass (knocking or renouncing) or bye from the stock.
- Players must match tiles with the same number of pips to build a chain.
- When a player says, “I pass,” the turn moves to the next player. If no player is able to make a play, the game ends.
- In some variations, byeing tiles from the game stock is permitted, where players can draw as many tiles based on the dominoes game rules.
- Players add tiles matching the number of pips with an open end of the line of play on the table.
- As the game progresses, the line extends where the game tiles can extend in any direction. The configuration of dominoes in a line is known as layout, string or line of play.
- Only the doubles in dominoes can extend in any direction, based on the rules of dominoes; that is, they can be played from all four sides.
- A Spinner can be played on all four sides as per the rules.
- If the double-played tile is not a spinner, then it must go lengthwise in the chain.
- If you have a blank side, it can only be matched with another tile with a blank side in the straight dominoes.
- If two players have the same number of pips, no one scores any points for that round.
Also Read: How to Play Minesweeper
How to Play Dominoes
Game Setup
The Dominoes game is played with flat rectangular block tiles made of different materials such as plastic, wood, or bone. The Dominoes game dates back as early as the mid-18th century. There are many variants of this game that have developed over the years. Let us get set up for a straight dominoes game.
- The basic set of dominoes consists of 28 tile pieces where the maximum pips number is double sixes. You can opt for larger sets containing double nine or double twelve when more players are in the game.
- The 28 pieces have blank as the minimum pips and double six as the highest pips tile.
- The dominoes game is ideal for 2-4 players. However, with larger sets, 6 to 8 players can play at a time.
- You can decide the winning point before starting the game. You can keep the points to 100, 150, or 200 points.
- The game can be played with 2 players where each player receives 7 tiles each, or if there are 3 to 4 players, then each player draws 5 tiles.
- The remaining tiles on the table go to the draw pile or boneyard.
- Shuffle the tiles on the table, with all tiles face down. Then, each player picks one tile from the table.
- The player with the highest double starts the game and kicks the first chance.
- If no one in the game consists of a double, then the highest number of pips on the tile starts the game. You can also reshuffle and redraw the hands again.
- Every dot on a tile is an individual pip in the game.
- Keep tiles hidden from other players and arrange them in a way that all tiles and the number of pips are visible to you.
- The first domino at the center of the table is called the “spinner.”
- Decide whether the doubles are to be kept perpendicularly or in line with the chain.
Objective
The player who reaches a set of scores first or has the lowest total of pips when the game ends wins the game. The goal is to place dominoes in a chain matching the numbers on the adjacent tiles. The player whose hand tile ends first wins the game. Learn how to play dominoes with two and more than two players ahead.
Gameplay
Shuffle Tiles
Players shuffle the tiles face down on a flat surface, making sure nobody gets to see the tiles. Players who shuffle must be the last player who draws tiles left in the game. Players can choose their turn before each game and every player might get a chance to shuffle the dominoes played.
The player who sits right to the person who makes the first play shuffles in the next game. The winner of the previous game can also shuffle in the next game. It is upto you and the team to decide which one to follow.
Seating Order
The seating order often goes by the highest ranking order of the tiles. Players who draw a domino having the highest domino set take the first choice of seating, followed by the next highest-order domino in the game.
If there is a tie in the ranking order, players draw a domino each and compare to decide who goes first. The tiles are again returned to the stock and reshuffled. In a partnership game, partners sit opposite to each other in a team.
The First Play
The first player places one of the highest doubles in their hand on the table to begin the game. The highest double is played firsthand. If not the highest double, the second-highest double is played, and so on. The game starts with a double. If there are no doubles, the hands are discarded and reshuffled.
The game advances clockwise, where players take turns and place tiles that match the number at one end of the chain. A tile can only be used in a chain when its number matches the number at one of the chain’s open ends. Players need to draw a tile from the boneyard if they cannot play or do not have a matching tile.
Playing Dominoes
Dominoes can be played in two directions, with the line of play lengthwise and across the line of the play crosswise. You have to place regular dominoes next to previously played dominoes with one end exposed. If there are matching pips or doubles, they must be placed perpendicular (T shape) to the other dominoes.
If you cannot move, draw from the boneyard or draw pile until you get a playable domino. If all the boneyard tiles or dominoes are drawn and you cannot play matching tiles, you must skip to the next player.
Drawing Hands
Each player must draw a specific number of dominoes tiles as allowed according to the dominoes game rules and place them in front of them in a way such that no other players can take a pip inside and count the tiles. All the remaining dominoes tiles left must be kept aside with face down.
Passing and Byeing
Players who do not have a matching tile can purchase from the leftover stock as per the game rules. Players can pass a turn even if they hold a playable tile in their hand. Passing in dominoes is also known as “knocking” in the game. The player must announce with a pass to allow the next player to play their moves.
If no one can make a move in their respective turns, the game ends.
Players can buy from the remaining stock in the game as per the rules of the game. Players aim to block their opponents by limiting their playable options in the game. A round ends when a player places their last tile, or no further moves are possible. The first player to get all dominoes wins their hand. After each hand, tally the points and note them down.
Scoring
The total number of pips in other players’ hands is to be added to the winner’s player’s tally. The player who wins the hand accumulates points for that round. The winner scores the total number of pips left on all opponent’s tiles in the game. If no further moves are possible, the game is “blocked”. The player with the fewest pips wins the round.
The previous round’s winner starts the next round in the dominoes game. If two players have the same number of pips, no one scores any points for that round. The winner of the round in the game gets the points from the losing player’s hands, and the losing player receives zero points. In the case of a draw game situation, no players get any points for that round.
If no tiles are left in the boneyard and it’s empty, then the player with the lowest total pips wins the points.
For example, the tiles played are 2-6 and 6-6 in a Dominoes, and the open ends are 2 and 6. The second tile is a double tile kept perpendicular to the chain, making both 6s active. While counting the scores, all open ends 2 from (2|6) 6 from (2|6) and 6 first half of (6|6), and 6 from the second half of (6|6) are added to get the total score i,e. 2+6+6+6 = 20.
Winning
The first player or team to reach the predetermined score wins the game. Players can also play a set number of rounds, and the player or team with the highest score wins the game. Also, if a player or team gets rid of all their hand tiles or dominoes, it wins the game.
The game ends when a certain number of hands have been played or a player makes the predetermined points to win. For most domino games, the objective of the game is to get rid of all dominoes in your hand and announce “domino”. The game ends when no player is able to make another play in the game, and this is called a blocked game. The games when a game is blocked.
How to Play Dominoes With Two Players?
With two players, each player draws dominoes equal to seven from a well-shuffled set. The rest of the tiles go to the boneyard. Players take turns placing tiles with matching numbers on the chain ends. A round ends when a player keeps their last tile, or no moves are possible. The winner is the player with the fewest remaining pips.
Setup
- For a two-player Dominoes game, you have to use a standard set of dominoes with 28 tiles in a double six set.
- You have to place the gaming ground on a flat surface.
- Place all the tiles face down on the table and mix them thoroughly.
- Each player must draw 7 tiles from the stock and keep them hidden from opponents.
- Place the remaining tiles face down to make a boneyard, also known as a draw pile.
Gameplay & Scoring
- The player with the highest double tile places tiles on the table and can play with the highest tile despite using a double.
- If both players tie, draw again from the boneyard until one has a higher tile.
- The game proceeds in a clockwise direction, with players taking turns placing tiles on the open ends of the chain.
- Doubles and blocking moves can be taken in two-player dominoes games.
Winning
- At the end of the round, the player who runs out of tiles first wins the round.
- If the round ends in a block, the player with the lowest total tile points wins and scores a difference between both player’s totals.
- The game is played until a player reaches a pre-determined score after a set number of rounds. The player with the highest score wins.
What to do During the Below Accidents?
There are incidents of accidents that might occur during your dominoes gameplay. Let us learn how to respond to these situations effectively.
Dominoes Exposed
If your opponent knows your dominoes tiles due to any error or mistake, whether it is one player or everyone in the game. If it is a single tile, then it must be exposed to everyone on the table. The game usually continues normally, and players with exposed tiles must use the tiles carefully to have the least impact.
Misplacing a Domino
A player might accidentally lose or place an illegal domino in the game. The move is undone and does not count to any score or points. The turn might also get eliminated depending on the best and most effective solution.
Draws the Wrong Number of Tiles
This situation arises when a player takes too many or fewer tiles than the specified number of tiles in the game. Players must count after each drawing or before starting the game. You can return the extra tiles to the boneyard pile.
Skipping Turn by Mistake
When a player misses their turn unintentionally, they can take their turn if they notice it quickly. If it is too late, the game can be rewritten or go as usual with the player waiting for his next turn.
Wrong Counting
Sometimes, an error occurs when scoring at the end of a round or game. Players commit a mistake in counting. It is a good practice to double-check the score before recording it on the sheets. You can also use a calculator on your phone to maintain the accuracy in the game.
Winning Strategy & Tips for Dominoes Game
Some basic practices must be used in the dominoes gameplay to maximize your chances of dominating and winning the game.
Play Doubles at Early Stage
Doubles are high-point tiles in the game that can backfire if your opponent gets hold of the doubles and connects. Doubles leave the same hook in the chain, which must be connected with a similar tile. For example, if you place a double 6 tile, then you will need other tiles with 6 pips to connect the chain. It is, hence, good to get rid of doubles at an early stage.
Use Doubles Carefully
Make sure you make good use of doubles tiles in your hand to extract the maximum benefit in the game. Sometimes, it is clever to take a little risk and reserve your double tiles for later in the game. As the game progresses, you will get a clear idea of your opponent’s hand and then use your doubles to force moves those opponents fail to play.
Maintain Tiles in Your hand
Make sure to keep tiles in your hand that can be used to connect chains in the game and make as many numbers as possible. Avoid getting stuck in the game with same suits.
Prefer Defensive Play
Maintain a defensive attitude in the game, and try to eliminate your opponent’s opportunity to score points while making defensive moves. Blocking moves is a defensive strategy where you have to anticipate your opponent’s move. Try to use tiles with hooks that make your opponent skip or fail to move.
Types of Dominoes Games
There are generally four significant types of dominoes games popular among players. Below, we will get an overview of each type.
- Bidding Game: Players have to bid in the game to control the gameplay by declaring how many points they can make in the game or the number of rounds they can win. Players bid after reviewing their tiles in hand.
- Blocking Game: The major objective of this type of dominoes game is to block opponents from making valid moves in the game while playing all tiles. The round ends when no player can make a move or when one player plays all their dominoes tiles.
- Scoring Game: In this type of dominoes, players aim to score points during the game, and the player or team with the highest score wins the game. The game continues until a player reaches the target score.
- Rounding Game: This game is very similar to a scoring game in dominoes, with the major focus on completing a specific number of rounds before the game ends. Players with the highest cumulative total till the pre-decided round wins the game.
Dominoes Variants
Most dominoes variants use a standard 28-piece set, which goes up to double six. The highest domino set also contains 12 double sets. Let us explore some of the popular dominoes variants.
The First Game
In this variant of dominoes, players draw an equal number of dominoes. The aim is to be the first player to get all dominoes on the table. Players keep joining dominoes in the game with matching numbers, and when stuck, the game passes to the next player.
The first person who manages to keep all dominoes on the table wins. If the game is blocked, the player with the lowest pip wins the game.
Blind Dominoes
The player’s objective is to be the first player to play all dominoes in the game. Divide the dominoes set in equal parts with the remaining tiles left unseen. Players arrange dominoes in a row while keeping their faces down. The leftmost domino is played face up to match the domino in the center. If unmatched, the tile is returned to the right of the row face down.
The game continues until someone plays all dominoes. If no one can play, the game restarts, or “Stale-mate” is declared in the game.
Doubles Dominoes
The main objective in the doubles dominoes is played with up to 4 players drawing 7 tiles each. If there are five players, they get 5 tiles each. Players have to draw dominoes from a boneyard, and the player must keep a double on the table, match the domino, and then again keep a double or wait until they get one. The first player to play all dominoes wins the game!
Block Dominoes
In this variant of dominoes players have to block opponents from playing their desired move in the game. The highest double starts in the game and place dominoes in a line with matching ends. The winner of the game can add the opponent’s total pip count to their score. The game continues until one player achieves a predetermined score.
Sebastopol
Players having a double i,e. 6:6 or 9:9 leads in the game. If no one has the double tiles, they draw tiles from the boneyard until it appears. The first four players must attach all sides of the center double and build lines from the end only.
Doubles in the game are treated as regular dominoes joined only through their ends. You have to extend lines from all four sides of a central double.
Muggins
The main objective of players in this variant of dominoes is to score the most points in the game. This variant of Dominoes game is suitable for 3-4 players, where players having the highest double starts the game. Doubles must be joined on each side, and one point is awarded for every multiple of 5 formed with line ends.
You can draw dominoes from the boneyard if you are unable to make a move. The first player to reach a pre-determined score becomes the winner!
Learn How to Play Among Us and Some of the Best Tips and Strategies to Win the Game.
FAQs
What is the simplest domino game?
The block dominoes game is one of the simplest variants of the domino game, with each player taking turns placing tiles with matching numbers. If a player cannot play, they pass i,e no drawing from the boneyard. The game ends when a player runs out of tiles, or no moves are further possible.
How do you play dominoes match?
Players must match the tiles with the same number of pips to build a chain. Each player starts with a set number of tiles and turns alternate as players place tiles with matching numbers. The game ends when one player has no tiles or left, or no moves can be made.
How to shuffle dominoes?
Dominoes tiles are shuffled face down on a table by using your hands to mix the tiles in random directions until they get thoroughly shuffled. Players have to pick any random tiles from the deck.
What are the rules for Dominoes 2 players?
- In two players, each player gets seven titles from a shuffled set.
- The first player places the highest double or highest tile on the table.
- Players start to match one end of the chain with a tile.
- If no moves are possible, players must draw from the boneyard until they can play.
- The round ends when a player places their last tile or no moves are possible.
How do you play dominoes step by step?
- Shuffle the dominoes with each dominoes kept face down.
- Each player gets seven tiles for two players and five tiles for 3 to 4 players.
- The player with the highest double starts the game.
- Players match one end of the chain with a tile and alternately form a chain.
- If not able to draw from the boneyard and pass if it is empty. The round ends when a player places their last tile, or no moves are possible in the game ahead.
- Keep the total score in the winner’s hand for the round. Play until the winner is declared.
How do you score in dominoes?
You can easily score in a dominoes game by summing up all open-ended pips on the losing player tiles. The player who wins the hand accumulates points for that round.
What are the rules of straight dominoes?
The domino rules for straight games are simple to understand and follow.
- No scoring is done during gameplay.
- Only the doubles in the dominoes can extend in any direction.
- If unable to play, a player must pass without drawing from the boneyard.
- Players add tiles matching the number of pips with an open end of the line of play on the table.
- The winner is the first to play all their tiles, or the player with the fewest pips wins the game.
- If no one in the game has a double, then the highest number of pips on the tile starts the game
How many domino pieces do you start with?
For two players in a dominoes game, each player starts with 7 tiles in hand. When there are 3 to 4 players, each player draws 5 tiles in the game.
What is the easiest domino game?
Block Dominoes is the most straightforward domino variant among all the game variants. Players match tiles with no boneyard draws, and the game ends when no moves are possible.
