How to Play Dominoes

Fundamentals of Dominoes

There are countless different domino games and within each game, there are many variations of play available. The purpose of this set of rules is to get you started with a few simple and popular games.

One of the wonderful things about dominoes is that anyone can learn the basics very quickly, but as you play and progress, you will find many additional levels of the game and as your experience and skills develop, you will become a more and more formidable player. Get started with these simple games and you will find yourself getting smarter every time you play. Dominoes is a good game for your brain.

A standard double-six set has 28 tiles, from double blank (0–0) through double six (6–6).

All four games in this guide support 2–4 players. Partners are optional in 4-player games.

The basis of most domino games is to lay down a domino next to another domino so that the numbers (or blanks) on adjacent dominoes match each other.

Singles dominoes are placed on the table making a line of play.

Double dominoes are played across the line of play.

If the layout is approaching the table edge, you may turn the line:

And then further play continues in a linear fashion from either end.

The first domino played is called the "set". It could be anything, but here is an example:

Block

Be the first player to get rid of all the dominoes in your hand. Players should also try to block their opponents from being able to play.

• Turn all dominoes face down and shuffle them.
• Each player draws:
  • 7 dominoes in a 2-player game
  • 5 dominoes in a 3- or 4-player game
• Place the remaining dominoes face down — these are called the boneyard.
  • The boneyard is not used in Block.

• The player holding the highest double plays first.
• If no player has a double, reshuffle and redraw.

Players take turns going first in each game. When a player is first, he may place any of his dominoes face up on the table to start play. The first domino played is called the "set".

After the set, each domino must be placed next to a matching domino. Singles must be played end-to-end. Doubles must cross singles. Plays can be made on either end of a single domino and on both sides of a double domino, but not on the ends of a double.

Winning player's score is equal to the total number of dots on his opponents' unplayed dominoes minus the number of dots on the dominoes he is holding at the end of the game.

In case of a tie, the player holding the single domino with the lowest total count is the winner.

With each hand, you accumulate points. Before you start, and depending on how long you want to play, set a number (say 100 or 200) and the first player to reach that total score wins the game.

Draw

Be the first player to get rid of all the dominoes in your hand. If no one can play and the game becomes blocked, the player with the lowest total number of dots in their hand wins the hand.

• Turn all dominoes face down and shuffle them.
• Each player draws:
  • 7 dominoes in a 2-player game
  • 5 dominoes in a 3- or 4-player game
• Place the remaining dominoes face down in the boneyard.

• The player holding the highest double plays first.
• If no player has a double, reshuffle and redraw.

• In a 2-player game, the last two dominoes in the boneyard may not be drawn.
• In a 4-player game, the very last domino in the boneyard may not be drawn.

Before you start, and depending on how long you want to play set a number (say 100 or 200) and the first player to reach that score wins the game.

Muggins (All Fives)

• Score points by making the total number of dots on the open ends of the layout a multiple of 5.
• Points can be scored each time a domino is played and again at the end of each hand.
• The goal is to reach the agreed-upon winning score before your opponents.

• Turn all dominoes face down and shuffle them.
• Each player draws 5 dominoes.
• Place the remaining dominoes face down in the boneyard.

• The player holding the highest double plays first.
• If no player has a double, reshuffle and redraw.

As in the "Block", dominoes must be played so their ends match. Dominoes are laid end to end except doubles which are laid across the line of play. As in "block", you cannot play on the ends of a double once it is placed. Play proceeds clockwise around the table.

In Muggins, you can score each time a domino is placed as well as at the end of the game. The object is for the open ends of the dominoes to be a multiple of 5. For each multiple of 5, you score one point. Here are some examples:

Open ends are 1 and 4, count is 5, score one point.

Count both ends of the double 6. Open ends are 6, 6 and 3, count is 15, score 3 points.

When a player makes a score after placing a domino, a scorekeeper notes the score at that time. The running score may also be kept on a counter or cribbage board.

If a player cannot place a domino, he draws from the boneyard until he can make a play. In a two-person game, all but two of the dominoes in the boneyard may be drawn. In a three or four-person game, all but one of the dominoes in the boneyard may be drawn.

The first player to use all his tiles calls "domino" and ends the hand. If no player can play his last domino and the boneyard has been depleted down to one or two dominoes (see "drawing from the boneyard" above), the hand is over.

When the hand is over, the player (or team) with the lowest number of dots on their remaining dominoes receives additional points based on the number of dots in the opponents hands. For every multiple of 5 dots in the opponents hands, the winner receives one point. For a count of 1 or 2 above a multiple of 5, there is no additional score. For a count of 3 or 4 above a multiple of 5, round up to the nearest 5.

Keep playing the hands until one player or team has 61 points. That ends the game. Want to play longer? You can set the game ending score at 100 or 200 or whatever you would like.

Five Up or All Fives

• Outscore your opponents by creating totals at the open ends of the layout that are multiples of 5 after each play.
• Points are scored during play and again at the end of each hand.
• The first player or team to reach the agreed-upon winning score wins the game.

• Turn all dominoes face down and shuffle them.
• Each player draws 5 dominoes.
• Place the remaining dominoes face down in the boneyard.

• The player holding the highest double plays first.
• If no player has a double, reshuffle and redraw.

The primary difference between Five-Up and Muggins is that the rules for placing of the dominoes are somewhat expanded from the previous games.

As explained above, dominoes are played in a linear fashion with the number of dots matching the adjacent domino.

Count is 4 + 6 = 10 Score 2 points

Doubles are played at a 90 degree angle to the line of play.

Count is 4 + 2 = 6 No score since not a multiple of 5

Each end of a single domino may be played on only once, and then the numbers on that domino are "cut off" for scoring purposes. Only score based on the dots at the ends of the line of play.

Count is 3 + 4 = 7 No score since not a multiple of 5

A double may be played on both sides and both ends before it is cut off.

The original 5-5 is cut off The count is 2 + 4 + 1 + 0 = 7 no score since not a multiple of 5

After a double is played on in this way, you can continue to build along the new line of play. This creates many more possibilities for play.

Scoring is the same as in Muggins. Count the open ends of the dominoes that have been placed. If the count is a multiple of 5, divide by 5 and that is your score. Here is an example.

Open ends are 6 + 5 + 4 + 0 = 15 Score 3 points

The game ends when any player places his last domino. At that point, that player (or team) adds to score based on the number of dots on the dominoes in the opponents' hands. (when playing in teams you do not add the number of dots remaining in your teammate's hand). Here are the rules for this process.

For every multiple of 5 dots in the opponents hands, the winner receives one point. For a count of 1 or 2 above a multiple of 5, there is no additional score. For a count of 3 or 4 above a multiple of 5, round up to the nearest 5.

If the game is blocked (all players still have dominoes, but nobody can make a play), the game ends and the player (or team) with the lowest number of dots remaining held collects points (based on the formula above) based on the dominoes in the opponents hands.