Overview
Learn a straightforward draw-style Dominoes game, including setup, matching, drawing and winning a hand.
Objective
Be the first player to play all of your dominoes, or have the lowest remaining pip total when play becomes blocked.
What You Need
Standard double-six domino set
Setup
Shuffle the dominoes face down. Players draw their starting hands and keep them hidden. The remaining dominoes form the draw pile, often called the boneyard.
How to Play
Start with an agreed opening tile. Players take turns adding one domino to an open end of the layout so the touching numbers match.
Key Rules
If you cannot play, draw from the boneyard according to the version being used. If no tiles remain and you still cannot play, pass. Doubles are commonly placed crosswise for readability.
Useful Terms
- Pip: One dot on a domino.
- Double: A tile with the same number at both ends.
- Boneyard: The face-down reserve of undrawn dominoes.
- Open end: An exposed number at either end of the domino line.
- Domino: To play your final tile and empty your hand.
Rules in More Detail
For the draw game described here, a double-six set works well. A common deal is seven tiles each for two or three players and six each for four players, with the rest forming the boneyard. Exact draw rules vary widely, so decide before the first hand whether players draw until they can play, draw only once, or leave a small reserve untouched.
Winning the Game
A hand ends when a player uses all their dominoes or nobody can play. The player who goes out wins; in a blocked game, the player with the lowest pip total usually wins.
Worked Example
If an open end shows 5, you may play any domino with a 5 on one half and leave the other half as the new open end.
Strategy Tips
- Track which numbers have already appeared.
- Keep flexible tiles that match several likely ends.
- Try to avoid being left with high-value doubles.
- Watch which numbers cause opponents to draw or pass.
Beginner Notes
If playing several hands, choose a scoring system before starting. A simple family method awards the winner the total pips left in the opponents’ hands. For a blocked hand, compare the pip totals remaining in each hand.
Common Mistakes
- Matching the wrong ends.
- Forgetting to draw when required.
- Counting the number of tiles instead of their pips when scoring a blocked hand.
Variations & House Rules
There are many Dominoes games, including Block, Draw, All Fives and partnership versions. This guide describes a simple draw-style game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pip?
A pip is one of the dots printed on a domino.
What happens if nobody can play?
The hand is blocked and remaining pips are counted.
Do doubles have special powers?
Not in a basic draw game, although they are often placed crosswise.
Score Card
Open the CS17 fillable Dominoes Game Sheet to enter player names and game results on screen, then print it or save it as a PDF.