Dominoes
A tile-matching game of laying down numbered ends to build a growing line.
- Players2 to 4 players (4 is common)
- Play time20 to 30 minutes
- DifficultyBeginner friendly
- OriginChina, roughly the 12th century, later spreading to Europe by the 18th century
- You'll needA standard double-six domino set (28 tiles).
Overview
Dominoes is a tile-based game played with small rectangular pieces, each marked with two halves showing a number of dots (called "pips") from blank up to six on a standard set. Players take turns matching the open ends of a growing line of tiles, and the simple act of matching numbers hides real decisions about which tiles to hold back and which to release.
Tile games resembling dominoes are documented in China from around the 12th century, using tiles that mapped to the results of two dice rather than the blank-to-six range used in the West today. The game reached Italy and then the rest of Europe by the 1700s, where it took on the numbering and rules most players recognize now, before spreading worldwide through trade and travel.
What You Need
You need a standard double-six domino set, which contains 28 tiles covering every combination of two numbers from blank (zero) through six, including doubles like six-six and blank-blank.
Setup
Turn all 28 tiles face down and mix them thoroughly. Each player draws seven tiles (in a two-player game) or five tiles (with three or four players), keeping them hidden from opponents. The remaining tiles form a face-down "boneyard" that players can draw from later in the game. The player holding the highest double (or, if no one has one, the highest total tile) typically goes first.
How to Play
The first player places any tile to start the line. On each following turn, a player must place a tile so that one of its two numbers matches an open end of the line already on the table, placing the matching numbers together. Doubles, where both halves show the same number, are traditionally placed sideways across the line, and in most rule sets, they open up an extra branch for future tiles to attach to on either side. If a player cannot make a legal match with any tile in their hand, they draw tiles from the boneyard until they can play or the boneyard is empty, in which case they simply pass their turn.
How to Win
A round ends when one player successfully plays their very last tile, or when no player can make any further legal move (a "blocked" game). If a player goes out first, they score points based on the total pip count remaining in every opponent's hand. In a blocked game, the player with the lowest total pip count in hand wins the round and scores the difference against the other players' hands. Play typically continues across several rounds until a player reaches an agreed target score, such as 100 or 150 points.
Tips
- Try to play your doubles early, since they can be harder to place later and often get stuck in hand.
- Keep track of which numbers have already appeared often, since those become harder to match as the game goes on.
- Hold back a tile that matches an unlikely number, since it may become valuable if the boneyard runs low.
- Try to end your hand on a number your opponents are unlikely to be holding.
- In a blocked game, minimize your own pip count even if you can't go out first.
Common Mistakes
- Holding onto a double for too long instead of releasing it when a matching opportunity appears.
- Failing to track which numbers are running low, leading to an avoidable draw from the boneyard.
- Forgetting that a double is usually placed sideways and can branch the line in a new direction.
- Ignoring the total pip count in your hand late in a round, when going out matters less than minimizing points.
Variations
Muggins (also called All Fives) awards bonus points any time the open ends of the line add up to a multiple of five. Mexican Train uses a larger double-twelve or double-nine set and lets each player build their own branching line in addition to a shared communal one. Block dominoes, the simplest version, removes the boneyard entirely, so a player who cannot play simply passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
You simply pass your turn to the next player without playing a tile.
Most sets and house rules place a double sideways, perpendicular to the line, which visually marks it and often lets the line branch in a new direction from that point.
Yes, with a larger set such as a double-nine or double-twelve set, which contains more tiles and can comfortably support five, six, or more players.