LET'S PLAY
DOMINOES
Dominoes—a game of numbers, strategy, and just the right amount of luck, not to mention a side quest you must complete to call yourself a true Cowboy. You match tiles, build chains, and try to outthink your opponent before they leave you with a handful of high-pip dead weight. Play your doubles wisely, control the board, and don’t get stuck drawing from the Boneyard while your opponent coasts to victory. Simple to learn, and endlessly replayable.
Object
Set Up
The object of Dominoes is to be the first player to reach 150 points (or another agreed-upon total). Points are earned by shedding all your dominoes and adding up the pips left in your opponent’s hand.
What You Need
A double-six domino set (28 tiles).
2 to 4 players (or teams of two).
A flat playing surface.
Tile Value
• Shuffle the dominoes face-down and create the Boneyard (draw pile).
• Players draw tiles:
• 2 players: Each draws 7 tiles.
• 3 or 4 players: Each draws 5 tiles.
• The remaining tiles stay in the Boneyard for drawing.
• The player with the highest double (e.g., double-six) starts the game. If no player has a double, everyone draws one tile at a time from the Boneyard until a double appears.On subsequent game the next clockwise player goes first and can lead with any tile.
• Each domino tile has two ends, with numbers ranging from 0 (blank) to 6.
• A tile with the same number on both ends is a double (e.g., double-six, double-three).
• The pips (dots) are used for both matching and scoring.
Game Play
1. Play a domino by matching one of its ends to an open end of a domino already on the table.
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Example: If a 6 is open, a tile with a 6 on one side can be played.
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Doubles are placed sideways and are only played on two sides, except for the first double, which can be played on all four sides.
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2. If you cannot play, draw from the Boneyard until you find a playable tile.
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3. If no tiles remain in the Boneyard, pass your turn.
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4. Doubles are placed sideways and only played on two sides, except for the first double, which can be played on all four sides.
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5. Play continues until one player sheds all their dominoes or no legal moves remain.
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Turning the Train
If the layout runs out of space, players can turn the train (change its direction) to continue placing tiles.
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Forced Moves (Exact Match Rule)
If a player plays a tile that exactly matches a tile already on the board, they must take that tile before considering other captures.
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How a Round Ends
• A round ends when a player places their last domino (goes out).
• If no player can make a move and the Boneyard is empty, the round ends in a stalemate, and no points are awarded.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Watch the step by step guide here!
Scoring
The winner of the round scores points equal to the total pip count of their opponent’s unplayed dominoes. IE. add up all the numbers in the hands of the players who didn't win.
In a two player game, If player 1 went out they get the total value of players two remaining in hand dominoes.
Player 2 adds up the numbers shown on their in hand dominoes and that total is given to Player one as their score this round. Record the score and set up for another round if the final score hasn't been reached.
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The game continues until a player reaches 150 points (or another pre-set score).
Strategy Tips
Play high-value dominoes early to avoid giving points to your opponent.
Control key numbers—if you dominate a suit, your opponent may get stuck.
Plan ahead—don’t play a number you don’t have a backup for.
Final Thoughts
Dominoes is a game of numbers, memory, and strategy. Whether you’re playing casually or competitively, thinking ahead and keeping track of played tiles can give you an edge. Grab a set and start playing!
