How to Play Dominoes
Dominoes is a classic board game played all around the world. It’s easy to learn and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Below, we explain the basic rules and how to play it correctly.
Materials Needed
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A set of dominoes (typically 28 tiles with number combinations from 0 to 6)
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2 to 4 players
Objective of the Game
The goal is to be the first player to get rid of all your tiles or, if the game is blocked, to have the lowest total points in the tiles remaining in your hand.
Setup
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Shuffle the tiles: Place all tiles face down and mix them well.
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Draw tiles: Each player draws 7 tiles if there are 2 players, or 5 tiles each if there are 3 or 4 players. The remaining tiles are placed face down to form the “boneyard.”
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Choose the first player: The player with the highest double (e.g., double six) starts the game. If no one has a double, choose randomly.
Gameplay
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The starting player places a tile on the table.
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The next player must place a tile that matches one of the open ends.
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If a player cannot play, they must draw from the boneyard until they can play or until there are no tiles left.
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Play continues counterclockwise.
End of the Game
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A player wins the round if they place all their tiles.
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If no one can play and the boneyard is empty, the winner is the player with the lowest total points in their remaining tiles.
Variations
There are many variations of dominoes, some with additional rules like “passing a turn” or “playing in teams.” Be sure to agree on the rules before starting.
Now that you know the basics, gather your friends and enjoy a game of dominoes!
