Introduction

Dominoes is one of the world’s most popular and traditional games, played with rectangular tiles called "dominoes." Each tile has two ends, each showing a number of spots (pips) from 0 to 6 (in a standard double-six set). The game is easy to learn, making it perfect for families, friends, and casual players.

Game Setup

• Players: 2 to 4 (sometimes more, depending on the set).
• Tiles: A standard double-six set contains 28 dominoes.
• Shuffling: Place all tiles face down and shuffle them well.
• Drawing tiles:
  • 2 players: Each draws 7 tiles.
  • 3–4 players: Each draws 5 tiles.
• The remaining tiles form the "boneyard" (draw pile).

Objective of the Game

The goal is to be the first player to play all of your tiles or to finish with the lowest total of pips when no more moves can be made.

Basic Rules of Play

1. Starting the game: The player with the highest double (e.g., [6|6]) goes first. If no one has a double, players draw from the boneyard until one is found.
2. Placing tiles: Players take turns placing a tile that matches one end of the chain of tiles already on the table.
3. Drawing: If a player cannot play, they must draw tiles from the boneyard until they find a playable one (or the boneyard is empty).
4. Blocking: If no player can make a move and the boneyard is empty, the round ends.

Scoring

Scoring can vary, but the most common methods are:

• Traditional: At the end of a round, the winning player scores points equal to the total of all opponents’ remaining pips.
• Block game: If the game is blocked, the player with the lowest pip total wins the round and scores the difference between their total and the opponents’ totals.
• Target score: Players agree on a winning score before starting (often 100, 150, or 200 points).

Winning the Game

The game continues until a player reaches the agreed target score. In casual play, players often simply agree that the first to win a set number of rounds is the overall winner.

Popular Variations

• Draw Dominoes: Players draw tiles when unable to play until the boneyard is empty.
• Block Dominoes: No drawing is allowed; if you can’t play, you pass your turn.
• Mexican Train: A variation where each player builds their own train of tiles, with a shared "Mexican train" open to all.