Rules of Domino Games

Domino Rules (Teaching Style)

1. Draw Dominoes

Set Used: Double‑six (28 tiles). Players: 2–4.

Players	Tiles Drawn	Boneyard
2	7 each	14
3	5 each	13
4	5 each	8

Objective: Be first to play all tiles, or have the lowest total if the game blocks.

1. Shuffle tiles face‑down; draw starting hands.
2. Highest double starts. Turns proceed clockwise.
3. Play one tile that matches an open end. If you cannot play, draw one from the boneyard (pass if empty).

Variation: Some groups draw repeatedly until a playable tile is found.

2. Block Dominoes

Set Used: Double‑six. Players: 2–4. Key Difference: No boneyard.

Deal enough tiles so none remain face‑down. Play if you can; otherwise pass. Highest double starts.

Scoring: Winner scores the total pips left in opponents’ hands.

3. Mexican Train

Set Used: Double‑twelve (91 tiles). Players: 2–8.

Players	Tiles Drawn
2–4	15 each
5–6	12 each
7–8	10 each

1. Start with the double‑12 (or next highest available double) in the hub.
2. Each player builds a personal train from the hub.
3. The “Mexican Train” is public; anyone may play on it.
4. If you cannot play, draw one. If still blocked, mark your train open so others may play on it.

Round End: Someone goes out or no moves remain. Opponents count pips as penalty. Lowest total across rounds wins.

Variation: Some groups require a double to start a personal train; others allow any tile.

4. Chickenfoot

Set Used: Commonly double‑nine (55 tiles). Players: 2–8.

1. Play begins with the highest double.
2. Three matching tiles must be played to that double to “form the chickenfoot.”
3. Doubles are played crosswise and must be satisfied (completed into a chickenfoot) before play continues elsewhere.

Scoring mirrors Mexican Train (count remaining pips at round end).

5. Spinner

Set Used: Often double‑nine. Players: 2–8.

The first double played becomes the spinner and opens four directions. Normal matching rules apply for other plays.

6. Forty‑Two (Texas 42)

Set Used: Double‑six. Players: 4 in fixed partnerships.

Structure: Bid for the number of points you can take (out of 42). High bidder names trump and leads the first trick. Follow suit if possible. Highest in suit wins unless trump is played.

Points in Tricks: each five‑pip tile = 1 point; each double = 5 points; total per hand = 42.

Variants: Moon and Splash are popular alternatives with different trump treatments.

7. Moon

Set Used: Double‑six. Players: 4 in partnerships.

Doubles act as permanent trumps. Bidding and trick play are similar to 42, with regional scoring variations.

8. Straight Dominoes

Set Used: Double‑six or double‑nine. Players: 2–4.

Score during play whenever the sum of open ends equals a scoring value (commonly multiples of five).

Glossary

• Boneyard (Chicken Yard): Face‑down draw pile.
• Double: Tile with the same value on both ends.
• Pips: The spots on a tile.
• Train: A sequence of tiles built end‑to‑end.
• Spinner: In Spinner, the first double that opens four directions.
• Chickenfoot: A three‑branch structure created when a double is satisfied.
• Blocked Game: A position where no player can move.
• House Rules: Agreed‑upon local variations.