Dominoes
Twenty-eight tiles, one chain, and the art of closing the game.
The classic game of dominoes for two, played with a double-six set. Players take turns adding a tile to either end of the chain, matching the values. If you cannot play, you draw. The first to empty their hand scores the pips left in the opponent's.
- Players
- 2
- Game length
- about 10 min
Rules
Objective
Play all your tiles before your opponent. A match is played over several rounds: the first player to reach the points set for the table wins.
The deal
The 28 tiles of the double-six set are shuffled face down. Each player takes seven; the other fourteen form the boneyard.
In the first round, the player holding the highest double starts and must play it. If nobody has a double, the heaviest tile opens. After that, the winner of a round opens the next one with any tile.
Taking a turn
On your turn, add a tile to either end of the chain: one of its halves must show the same value as that end. Doubles are laid crosswise.
A player who cannot play draws from the boneyard, one tile at a time, until they can. If the boneyard is empty, they pass.
When the chain reaches the edge of the table, it turns by itself.
End of round and scoring
The player who plays their last tile wins the round and scores the total pips left in the opponent's hand.
If nobody can play and the boneyard is empty, the game is blocked. Both players count their pips: the lighter hand wins and scores the difference. On a tie, nobody scores.