Dominoes

Dominoes is the family of chain-building tile games that’s spread from 13th-century China through medieval Europe to become one of the most-played analog games in the world. This is the Draw game with a Double-Six set: 28 tiles, 7 per player, build a chain by matching pips on the ends, draw from the boneyard when stuck, first to empty their hand wins. Played for centuries by everyone from Cuban dock workers to Italian café patrons to Latin American family Sunday afternoons.

How to play

• Standard Double-Six set: 28 tiles from 0-0 to 6-6.
• You and the computer each start with 7 tiles. The remaining 14 form the boneyard.
• Whoever holds the highest double plays first.
• The chain has 2 open ends. Your tile must match one of them.
• If you can’t play, draw from the boneyard. Keep drawing until you can play (or boneyard is empty — then pass).
• First to empty their hand wins the round.
• Blocked game: if neither player can move, count remaining pips — lowest total wins.
• Scoring: the round winner scores the pips left in the loser’s hand. Scores carry over when you press New Game.
• Click a tile to play it. The Auto / Play left / Play right selector picks which end it goes on when it fits both.

Beginner strategy

• Get rid of doubles early. Doubles (0-0, 1-1, etc.) are harder to play later — they have only one matching number.
• Hold heavy tiles for emergencies. 6-6 (12 pips) hurts your score if blocked. But great as a closer when chain ends in 6.
• Track played numbers. If all seven 3s are out, no 3-tile can return. Confidently dump anything ending in 3.
• Avoid “double-edge.” If both chain ends are the same number, opponent has many options. Try to diversify.
• Boneyard is information. Every tile opponent draws tells you something about what they don’t have.

Intermediate strategy

• Force opponent draws. If you can play a tile whose suit opponent likely can’t match, you force them to draw.
• Track suit distribution. 7 of each number in a Double-Six set. If you’ve played 5 sixes, the remaining 2 are predictable.
• Setup plays for partners. In partnership Dominoes, signal to your partner via tile choices.
• Manage your pip total. Late game, your remaining tiles’ pips matter if blocked. Don’t hoard heavy tiles unless setup demands.
• The “kicker” play. Drop a less-useful tile early to set up a power play later.

Advanced strategy

• Endgame pip math. When blocked, the player with lower pip total wins. Manage your pips ruthlessly late.
• Predictive play. If opponent has been drawing every other turn, they have a thin hand. Force more draws.
• Master the doubles strategy. Each double can only attach in one direction. Plan their placement.
• Tournament play. Professional Dominoes leagues exist in Latin America. Players track exact pip distributions mentally.
• Reading opponent. Long thinking on a turn often indicates few options. Take advantage.

Dominoes history

• 1200s — China: the earliest written mention of dominoes comes from Song dynasty China.
• 1700s — Italy and France: European dominoes appear in Italy early in the century and become a fad in France.
• Late 1700s — Britain: the game reaches England, reportedly brought by French prisoners of war.
• 1800s onward — global spread: dominoes reach Latin America and the Caribbean, becoming cultural staples.
• Today: the Double-Six set remains the standard in Europe and the Americas, with Double-Nine and larger sets for big groups.

Variants

• Block. No drawing: if you can’t play, you pass. First to empty hand wins.
• Draw (this version). Must draw from boneyard if you can’t play, but no fixed draw count.
• Mexican Train. Each player builds their own chain off a central hub.
• Muggins / All Fives. Score points when chain ends sum to a multiple of 5.
• Bergen. Score for matching number to opposite end.
• Double-Nine and Double-Twelve sets: larger sets for more players.

Common mistakes

• Hoarding doubles too long. Doubles play in only one direction. Use them early.
• Not tracking played suits. Knowing what’s out determines what’s available.
• Forgetting what draws cost. Each drawn tile adds pips to your hand if the game blocks.
• Ignoring pip totals. Blocked games go to lowest pip count.

FAQ

• Q: How many tiles in Double-Six set? A: 28 tiles, from 0-0 to 6-6.
• Q: How many tiles do you start with? A: 7 each. 14 remain in the boneyard.
• Q: Who goes first? A: Player with the highest double (6-6, 5-5, etc.). If neither has a double, you lead.
• Q: What if I can’t play? A: Draw from boneyard until you can. If boneyard is empty and you still can’t play, pass.

For other 2-player tabletop games, try Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, or Mancala.