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DOUB LE 6 • DOUB LE 9 • DOUB LE 1 2 • DOUB LE 1 5
I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R 1 2 G A M E S
D o min o B a s ic s
The following terms and rules apply to all domino games in this instruction booklet,
unless otherwise noted. If the rules differ for a particular game, the instructions will
specify.
TERMS: Each domino (also called a tile or bone) is divided into two parts, called ends.
The dots on the tiles are called pips. If a domino end has no pips than it is considered
blank. If both ends of the tile have the same number of pips, it is called a double.
A domino is referred to by its number of pips; for example, a domino with three pips on
one end and five pips on the other is called a 3-5. A domino with a blank on one end and
six pips on the other end is called a 0-6. A domino with four dots on both ends is called
a “double 4.” Each combination of pips occurs only once in a set—there are no
duplicate dominoes within a set.
SHUFFLING: Before every domino game, the tiles are placed face down on the
playing surface and shuffled to form a boneyard, from which players will draw. No
player’s hands may stay on the same tiles when shuffling. Players then take turns
drawing dominoes from the boneyard to form their hands– the dominoes they are
responsible for playing throughout the game. The number of tiles drawn depends on the
game being played. Players usually stand their tiles upright in front of themselves so
that opponents cannot see the pips.
GENERAL DOMINO PLAY: In most
games, the dominoes are placed
lengthwise, end to end, (except for
doubles) to form a line (see diagram A). The
line may have right angle turns in order to
keep within the playing area. In order to be
played, one end of the tile must match the
free or open end (the end of the domino
that does not touch another domino) of a
previously played domino. Because both
ends are the same, doubles usually are
played crosswise to the open end (See
diagram A). (Note: in most games this does not make two new open ends). A spinner is
a domino that can be played on both sides and both ends (see diagram B). In most
games that use a spinner, it is only the first double of the hand.
Most often, the player with the highest double (i.e. in a set of Double Six dominoes 6-6 is
the highest, in a set of Double Nine dominoes 9-9 is the highest, and so on) in their hand
begins the game by placing the domino, pips up, in the center of the playing area. If no
player has a double, the highest single begins the game (i.e. in a set of Double Six
dominoes 5-6 would be the highest single) or players may elect to reshuffle the tiles and
draw again in hopes of starting the hand with a double. Play is always clockwise, with
each player adding a tile to an open end(s). If a player does not have a tile that is
playable to any of the open ends they say, “pass.” In some games the player will have
to draw a number of tiles and complete their turn before play continues. If no player can
play a domino (and/or the boneyard is empty) then the round is ended because it is
considered blocked.
SCORING: Scoring varies according to the game being played. See individual game
instructions for scoring. Most domino games are played in rounds; scores are
calculated at the end of each round. Multiple rounds may be played until the winning
score is achieved.
double
open end
open end
A
spinner
open ends
open ends
B
B l o c k & D r a w D o min o es
This is the game of traditional dominoes. Most domino games are simply variations of this game.
PLAYERS: 2-4
EQUIPMENT: 1 set of dominoes, paper to keep score
OBJECT: Be the first player to score 100 or more points
PLAY: Shuffle the dominoes; each player draws five tiles. The player with the highest double
begins the game, by placing their domino in the center of the playing area. Play continues
clockwise. If no double is drawn, all the tiles are returned to the boneyard, reshuffled, and
redrawn.
In order to play a tile, the next player must play a tile that matches one of the open ends of the
center tile. A player must play a domino if they are able to do so. If a player cannot match the
pips on an open tile, they must draw from the boneyard and add it to their hand until they have
drawn a tile to play. If the player draws all the tiles from the boneyard and still cannot play, they
may say “pass” and play passes to the next player. If the boneyard is empty and no plays can
be made, the round ends because it is blocked.
ENDING THE GAME: The first player to get rid of all of their dominoes calls “Domino!” and
wins the game. If playing in rounds, the winning player earns the pip total of their opponents’
remaining dominoes. If the round is blocked, then the player with the lowest pip total wins. The
player scores their opponent’s points minus their own. The first player to reach 100 wins the
game.
A l l F iv es
In this variation of Block and Draw Dominoes, players only score if the ends add up to a
multiple of five after they place their domino.
PLAYERS: 2-4
EQUIPMENT: 1 set of dominoes, paper to keep score
OBJECT: Be the first player to score 100 or more points
PLAY: Shuffle the dominoes; each player draws the same number of tiles, (7 dominoes if 2
players, 5 if 3-4 players). The player with the highest double begins the game. Play continues
clockwise. Dominoes are played to matching ends as in standard Block and Draw, but to score,
players must make the open ends add up to a multiple of five. For example, (in diagram A, on
page 1), the player that has just placed the 2-4 domino, scores 5 points because their open end
of “4 ”is added to the other open end “1” (6-1 tile) for a total sum of five. When a double is
played, the total of the double is added. For example if a 3-3 is played, and the other open end
of the domino line is a “4” the player would score 3+3+4=10 points.
If a player does not notice their own play scores a multiple of five, an opponent may call
“muggins” after the next play. The player who calls “muggins” receives the points instead.
When a player cannot make a match, the player draws from the boneyard until they draw a tile
to play, as in Block and Draw. Throughout the hand, players earn the point value for every
multiple of five they make.
ENDING THE GAME: The first player to get rid of all their tiles says, “Domino!” and ends
the round. This player also receives any points left in the other player’s hands (each player’s
pips are added and the sum is rounded to the nearest multiple of five). If the round is blocked,
then the player with the lowest pip total wins. The player scores their opponent’s points minus
their own, and rounds the sum to the nearest multiple of five.
After each round, the players’ scores from the previous rounds are added as well. The first
player to reach 100 or more points is the winner of the game.
MATAD O R (al s o cal l ed Al l S even s )
In this unique domino game, many traditional domino rules are broken. Players may draw from
the boneyard, even when they have a playable tile. Players may only match ends that add to a
sum of seven.
PLAYERS: 2-4
EQUIPMENT: 1 set of dominoes (use only 0-0 through 6-6), paper to keep score
OBJECT: Be the first player to score 100 or more points
PLAY: Shuffle the dominoes; each player draws the same number of tiles, (7 dominoes if 2
players, 5 if 3-4 players). The player with the highest double begins the game. Play continues
clockwise. Dominoes are NOT played to identical ends, as in standard dominoes, but instead
ends are matched ONLY if they add up to a sum seven. For example, a 4-2 may be played on a
6-3 (the open 3 + 4=7). Also, doubles are not played crosswise in this game, they are played end
Most games can be played with any set of domines (Double 6, Double 9, Double 12 or Double 15).
A few games may instruct you to play with only the 0-0 through the 6-6 (simply set aside your
higher dominoes if you have a set larger than Double 6)