Dominoes are a popular series of board games for two to four players. It consists of a set of specially marked tiles. There are many games that can be played as dominoes, but the simplest, known as "block dominoes", serves as the basis for most of the others and remains the most popular. Read the following steps to learn how to play dominoes with two players.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preparation
Step 1. Buy a set of dominoes
A standard set contains 28 rectangular tiles marked with dots on the two halves of each side, exactly 0 to 6. The back is white and smooth. Most domino sets are inexpensive; many also come with a carrying case for easy carrying.
- Thrift stores and neighborhood clearance sales are great places to find cheap domino sets. Dominoes last pretty much forever - don't worry about the age of the set.
- If you don't have the money to buy dominoes, consider asking friends and family if you can borrow a set. Often someone you know will have an extra set, stored somewhere, which they will be happy to lend to you.
- There are also larger dominoes with numbers from 0 to 12 or more, up to 18. The game is played in much the same way regardless of numbering, but this article assumes a standard set of 0-6.
Step 2. Choose a seat
A domino game requires a flat surface with a fair amount of space. Large tables, such as those found in canteens and libraries, are usually a safe choice.
- Be sure to place it where at least a moderate level of noise is allowed - the tiles snap when placed on the table.
- The kitchen table is a great choice if you are playing with friends. Clear it out of any centerpieces or plates first.
Step 3. Shuffle the tiles
Turn the face of the tiles on the table, then move them with your hands, being careful not to flip them. Once the tiles have been shuffled sufficiently, move the pile to the side to clear the playing area.
The collection of shuffled tiles is often called a "pile of bones", as one of the most common nicknames for dominoes is "bones"
Part 2 of 2: The Game
Step 1. Set up a starting hand
Take seven tiles from the pile and place them on the table so your opponent can't see them turned around.
Step 2. Decide the order of play
There are a few ways to do this: Choose whichever method you and your partner both agree on. The most common methods are as follows:
- Each player chooses an additional tile from the pile. The player who has the tile with the highest total value plays first.
- Each player opens his hand and turns over the tile with the highest total value. Whoever has the highest number goes first.
- Each player reveals a double (a tile with the same number on both ends) from his hand and the player with the highest double goes first.
- One player flips a coin and the other player declares whether he wants heads or tails. Whoever wins plays first.
Step 3. Place the first domino
It is customary for the first domino to be a double tile (with the same number on both sides), if possible; otherwise, any card can be used. The orientation of the domino does not matter.
Step 4. Take turns adding tiles
Using your hand with seven tiles, add a domino to both narrow ends of the first tile. You can add a tile only if it has a number that matches a number on a free end of the domino board. For example, if the first tile is a double 4, you can only play a domino that has one end marked with a 4. Place the ends together to show that they are matched.
- Once the end of one tile has been placed on the end of another tile, those ends are closed and no further dominoes can be attached to them.
- There are never more than two open ends anywhere on the table. These are always at the outer ends of the domino chain.
- If you cannot play on either end of the game, you must pass your turn.
- If you are placing a double tile, it is customary (but not necessary) to set it perpendicular to the tile it is playing with. Regardless of the orientation, only one side of the double tile, the side opposite the touched side, is considered free.
- If you run out of space, it is acceptable to play on the appropriate free side of the tile so that the domino line spins. This has no strategic value and is only done to save space.
Step 5. End of Round and Reward Points
Whoever plays all seven tiles first and receives points equal to the sum of all the dots on the opponent's remaining tiles wins the round.
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If neither player is able to finish, both players reveal their hands and add the total of the tiles to each. Whoever has the lowest total wins the round and receives points equal to the difference between his total and the opponent's total.
In case of a tie, the victory goes to whichever player has the tiles with the lowest total sum
- Whenever a certain number of total points is reached, usually 100 or 200, the game is over.
Advice
- Find more people to play against. Dominoes are essentially a social game and many people know how to play it. Take your domino with you to school or to a meeting to find new players and make friends.
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Learn some simple variations to spice up the game:
- Collect Cards it's like classic dominoes, except that players have to take the tiles from the pile if they can't play.
- Grimaces is a domino game where points are scored whenever the total of both open ends is a multiple of 5.
- Many other variations can be found in books or online.
