Official Dominoes Rules
How To Play Dominoes
2 - 10
Players
6+
Ages
45 MIN
Play Time
$18
Price
One of the oldest tile games ever played, dominoes have been played for many centuries and across so many cultures. The game is normally played using a set of rectangular tiles, each divided into two squares, with a number from 0 to 6 on each side, forming a "double-six" set of 28 pieces. Some variants of the game include "double-nine" or "double-twelve." Each player in turn lays dominoes on the table, matching numbers on the ends of the tiles that have gone before. The game is continued until a player plays all his dominoes, or it reaches a stalemate.
In the standard issue of the domino game, players start by drawing a specified number of tiles from the set. In a two-player game, players will draw seven tiles each; in a four-player game, players will draw five tiles each. The remaining tiles are set aside and constitute the "boneyard" from which players can later draw a tile if no play can be made. The player with the highest double-the tile where both sides of the tile have the same number-is the first to go, placing that tile in the center of the playing surface. Those players who have no double take a tile from the boneyard until a double is drawn.
Players start laying their tiles by matching one end of their tile with any tile on the board that contains the same number. For instance, if a tile with a "3" on it is laid, the next player to play must do so with a "3" on one of the sides. When a player is unable to make a move, they draw from the boneyard. When the boneyard is depleted and the player has no play, then he has to pass his turn.
The game continues with the players playing tiles and drawing from the boneyard when each needs to. The cardinal strategy in playing dominoes is controlling the board-or more precisely, limiting the moves of your opponents, especially when you can open up lines for yourself to play more than one tile in a turn. By tracking what numbers have been played and what tiles you have, you can estimate what tiles each opponent may have and block them.
In most games of dominoes, a game is considered over when one player has played all his or her tiles, or none of the players can make moves anymore. In the case when a player has laid out all their tiles, this player is the winner of that round. When nobody can play and the boneyard is empty, then it is considered a draw. The winner is determined after the game has ended by counting the remaining tiles in the hands of the other players and adding up their total pip count, or the number on each tile. The winner scores points equal to the total number of pips in the other players' hands.
It could be played in various formats: either blocking games, scoring games, or even into more complex games like "Mexican Train." While the basic rules are quite simple, the controlling of the flow and counting of your opponents add a layer of complexity that makes dominoes a very entertaining and enjoyable game for all ages. Whether it be casual gaming or competitive tournaments, dominoes have stayed current and universally appealing.
In the standard issue of the domino game, players start by drawing a specified number of tiles from the set. In a two-player game, players will draw seven tiles each; in a four-player game, players will draw five tiles each. The remaining tiles are set aside and constitute the "boneyard" from which players can later draw a tile if no play can be made. The player with the highest double-the tile where both sides of the tile have the same number-is the first to go, placing that tile in the center of the playing surface. Those players who have no double take a tile from the boneyard until a double is drawn.
Players start laying their tiles by matching one end of their tile with any tile on the board that contains the same number. For instance, if a tile with a "3" on it is laid, the next player to play must do so with a "3" on one of the sides. When a player is unable to make a move, they draw from the boneyard. When the boneyard is depleted and the player has no play, then he has to pass his turn.
The game continues with the players playing tiles and drawing from the boneyard when each needs to. The cardinal strategy in playing dominoes is controlling the board-or more precisely, limiting the moves of your opponents, especially when you can open up lines for yourself to play more than one tile in a turn. By tracking what numbers have been played and what tiles you have, you can estimate what tiles each opponent may have and block them.
In most games of dominoes, a game is considered over when one player has played all his or her tiles, or none of the players can make moves anymore. In the case when a player has laid out all their tiles, this player is the winner of that round. When nobody can play and the boneyard is empty, then it is considered a draw. The winner is determined after the game has ended by counting the remaining tiles in the hands of the other players and adding up their total pip count, or the number on each tile. The winner scores points equal to the total number of pips in the other players' hands.
It could be played in various formats: either blocking games, scoring games, or even into more complex games like "Mexican Train." While the basic rules are quite simple, the controlling of the flow and counting of your opponents add a layer of complexity that makes dominoes a very entertaining and enjoyable game for all ages. Whether it be casual gaming or competitive tournaments, dominoes have stayed current and universally appealing.
- Double-Six Has 28 Tiles
- Double-Nine Has 55 Tiles
- Double-Twelve Has 91 Tiles
- Official Dominoes Game Rules And Instructions
In the traditional game of Dominoes, the winner must be the first to play all of his tiles.
Please keep in mind that the official Dominoes PDF rules listed below could be different depending on the version you have. They should be an exact copy of what came in your original packaging. Download them to view now or print them for later use.
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