rules to play dominoes

Two to Four people can play the games well show you here. If Four are playing, each person can play individually or you can group into two teams.

The basis of most domino games is to lay down a domino next to another domino so that the numbers or blanks on adjacent dominoes match each other.

Each player in turn lays down a single domino according to the rules of the game being played. Play proceeds clockwise around the table. If a player has a playable domino, he must play it when his turn comes. You cannot hold back a playable domino for strategic reasons.

This is a little more sophisticated version of Block. Everything is the same except when a player cannot place a domino, he must draw dominoes from the boneyard until he gets one that he can play. All the rest of the game remains the same. The limitation here is that in a 2 player game, the last two dominoes in the boneyard may not be drawn and in a 4 player game, the very last domino in the boneyard may not be drawn.

A standard set contains 28 rectangular tiles marked with between 0 and 6 dots on each end of the face side. The back side is blank and smooth. Most domino sets are inexpensive; many also come with a carrying case for easy transport. Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to find cheap domino sets. Dominoes last more or less forever, so dont worry about the age of the set. If you dont have the money to buy dominoes yourself, consider asking friends and relatives if you can borrow a set. Often, someone you know will have an extra set stored away somewhere that they will be glad loan you. There are also larger domino sets with numbers from 0 to 12 or more, all the way up to 18. The game is played more or less the same way regardless of numbering, but this article assumes you have an ordinary 0 to 6 set.

A game of dominoes requires a flat surface with a decent amount of space. Large tables, such as those found in cafeterias and libraries, are usually a safe choice. Make sure that you pick somewhere that allows at least a moderate level of noise; dominoes clack when theyre set down. A kitchen table is a fine choice if you are playing with friends. Clear off any centerpieces or dishes first.

Turn the tiles face down on the table, then move them around with your hands, being careful not to flip any over. Once the tiles have been sufficiently mixed, scoot the pile to one side so that your play area is clear. The collection of shuffled tiles is often called the bone yard, since one of the most common nicknames for dominoes is bones.

Take seven dominoes from the bone yard and stand them on the table so that your opponent cant see their faces.

There are a few ways to do this; choose whatever method you and your partner can both agree on. The most common methods are as follows Each player picks one extra tile from the bone yard. The player who draws the tile with the highest total value goes first. Each player reviews his or her hand and reveals 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 either end from his or her hand, and the player with the highest double goes first. One player flips a coin and the other player calls it. Whoever wins the flip goes first.

It is customary for the first domino to be a double tile a tile with the same number on both ends, if possible; otherwise, any tile may be used. The orientation of the domino doesnt matter.