Domino Rules & How to Play

Dominoes is one of the most timeless and celebrated tabletop games in history. It is played with a standard set of 28 tiles (also called bones or stones), each divided into two ends marked with a number of spots (pips) from 0 (blank) to 6.

1. Setup & Deal

At the start of each round, the 28 tiles are shuffled face-down:

Each player is dealt 7 tiles to form their hand.
The remaining 14 tiles form the boneyard (or stock).

2. Starting the Game

The round is opened by the player holding the highest double (e.g., [6|6], [5|5], etc.). If neither player holds a double, the player with the highest single tile leads.

3. Playing Tiles on the Board

Players take turns placing one matching tile at either open end of the domino train:

The number on the played end must match exactly with the open number on the chosen end.
Regular tiles are placed end-to-end lengthwise, while doubles are placed crosswise (perpendicularly).

Example: If the open ends of the chain are 3 on the left and 5 on the right, you may play any tile containing a 3 (connecting to the left) or a 5 (connecting to the right).

4. Game Modes: Draw vs Block

Draw Domino

If a player cannot make a valid move on their turn:

They must draw tiles from the boneyard one by one until a playable tile is found or the boneyard is empty.
If the boneyard is exhausted and the player still cannot move, they pass their turn.

Block Domino

In this variant, there is no drawing from the boneyard: if a player has no valid moves, they immediately pass the turn.

5. Winning the Round & Scoring

A round can end in two ways:

Domino! (Empty Hand): A player places their last tile on the board, winning the round. The winner earns points equal to the total sum of pips remaining in the opponent's hand.
Blocked Game (Lock): Neither player can make a legal move and the boneyard is empty. The player with the lowest sum of pips in their hand wins the round, earning the difference between the opponent's pips and their own.

6. Strategy Tips

Shed heavy tiles early: Try to play high-value tiles and high doubles early in the game to minimize risk if the game gets blocked.
Keep suit variety: Maintain a balanced hand with various numbers to ensure you can play on either side of the chain.
Block your opponent: Pay close attention to suits your opponent was forced to pass or draw on, and try to keep those open ends active to force them to pass again.