Dominoes

How to play Dominoes

The Draw game: match the open ends, go out first and score the pips left in everyone else’s hand.

Goal

Be the first to reach the table’s target score — 50, 100 or 150 points, chosen when the table is set up. You score by getting rid of all your tiles before anyone else.

The tiles

A double-six set: 28 tiles, one for every pair of numbers from blank (0) to six. A double has the same number on both halves.

Setup

Two to four players, seated at random. With two players each takes seven tiles; with three or four, five each. The rest stay face down in the boneyard. Only you can see your own tiles.

Opening

The first hand is opened by whoever holds the highest double, and they must lead with it. If nobody has a double, the heaviest tile opens. Every later hand is opened by the winner of the hand before, with any tile they like.

Taking a turn

Play goes clockwise. Play one tile on either open end of the line, matching the number showing there: tap a highlighted tile to play it. If it fits both ends, choose which end. Doubles sit across the line and still show just their one number.

Drawing and passing

If none of your tiles fits, draw from the boneyard one tile at a time until one does, then play it. If the boneyard is empty you pass. You may not draw or pass while you have a tile that fits.

Going out

Play your last tile and you have “dominoed”: the hand is over and you score every pip left in the other players’ hands.

Blocked hands

If nobody can play and the boneyard is empty, the hand is blocked. The player with the fewest pips left scores the pips in everyone else’s hand. If two or more tie for fewest, nobody scores and the lead moves on.

Winning

Hands are played until someone reaches the target at the end of a hand; they win. Everyone else is placed by their score.

Tips

Get rid of heavy tiles and doubles early — they are what an opponent scores if you are caught holding them. Keep a spread of numbers so you can follow, and watch for an opponent who draws: they have none of the numbers that were showing.

Resigning

Forfeiting takes you out of the game, and your tiles leave the table with you. With two players that hands your opponent the win; with more, everyone else plays on. Leaving a game in progress does the same.

These are the rules Piece of Cake plays, word for word: the same rulesheet is in the app under Help → Dominoes. Every roll, deal and move is checked on our servers, so nobody can bend them.