How To Play Double Six Dominoes Game

How to Play Double Six Dominoes Game

Alright, let’s dive into the fun world of double six dominoes! This game is super easy to learn, but it has tons of possibilities for strategy and exciting twists. Whether you’re playing with your family or friends, you’re in for a treat. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to play double six dominoes game, from setting up the game to playing your tiles wisely.

Understanding the Dominoes

Before we start playing, let’s get familiar with the pieces. A double six domino set has 28 rectangular tiles. Each tile is divided into two squares, and each square has a number of dots, called pips, on it. The pips range from zero (a blank square) to six. So, a double six domino set includes all the possible combinations of numbers, including doubles (like 1-1, 2-2, etc.)

The Domino Values

Here is an idea how the value of each piece is determined. Each tile has two sides with a certain number of pips. The number on one side is combined with the number on the other side to make up the value of the domino, such as 2-4, 5-0, 6-6. Let’s see how all 28 dominoes are distributed with values:

• 0-0
• 0-1, 1-1
• 0-2, 1-2, 2-2
• 0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3
• 0-4, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4
• 0-5, 1-5, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5, 5-5
• 0-6, 1-6, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6, 5-6, 6-6

Setting Up the Game

Okay, ready to get the game started? Here’s what you need to do:

Shuffling the Dominoes

First, you need to shuffle all 28 dominoes. To do that, simply place them face down on the table and mix them up thoroughly. Think of it like shuffling a deck of cards – you want to make sure they’re completely random. Spread them out, and give them a good mix. You can use your hands to move them around on the table and ensure they are mixed.

Drawing Your Hand

Once the dominoes are shuffled, each player takes a certain number of tiles. The number of tiles depends on how many people are playing. Here’s a simple rule:

• For 2 players, each draws 7 dominoes.
• For 3 or 4 players, each draws 5 dominoes.

The rest of the dominoes are placed face down in a pile, called the “boneyard”. This will be used later, in the game, if players can’t make any move. It’s important that you keep your dominoes hidden from the other players, so they don’t know what you have in your hand.

The First Player

The player with the highest double starts the game. A double is when both ends of the domino have the same number, like 6-6, 5-5, etc. If no one has a double, the player with the domino that has the highest total points starts. After the first game is done, the winner of each round generally starts the next one.

Gameplay: How to Play Double Six Dominoes Game

Alright, let’s get into the actual playing! The game is all about matching the numbers on the ends of the dominoes.

Playing Your First Domino

The first player puts their starting domino down in the center of the table. This domino becomes the first domino of the “chain” and the game starts with this. Once the first domino is placed, the player who did it is allowed to add more domino pieces, if they can.

Adding to the Chain

Now it’s time to build the chain! Each player takes turns trying to add a domino to the open ends of the chain. To do this, the number of pips on one end of the domino must match the number of pips on the open end of the chain. It’s like building a train of dominoes, connecting one piece to the next. If, for example, an open end is a 3, you can place any domino that has a 3 on one of its ends next to the 3.

Here’s a simple example:

If the first domino is a 4-2:

• The next player can place a domino with a 4 or a 2 on it, such as a 4-6 or a 1-2.
• If they place a 4-6, the chain now has an open end of 2 and an open end of 6.
• The game goes on with the next player and so on.

Drawing from the Boneyard

What happens if you can’t play a domino because you don’t have any dominoes that match the open ends? That’s where the boneyard comes in. If you can’t make a move, you must draw one domino from the boneyard. If that domino can be played, then you can do it immediately, if not then, the next player will play, and you keep the domino you drew from boneyard in your hand.

Doubles

When you play a double (like 5-5), you place it sideways across the chain. This is sometimes called “laying a double”. It works like any other domino by connecting to a matching number. The next player must place a matching tile connected to one end of the double and this double can create two opportunities, at each open end of the double. The play can proceed in two directions from the double now.

Blocking the Game

Sometimes, no one can play any more dominoes. This is called a blocked game. If the game blocks and all players run out of dominoes to place, the player with the fewest points left in their hand wins the round. The points are added from the values of the dominoes held in hand. If two or more players have the same low count, then they share the win.

Scoring the Game

Scoring is done when one player gets rid of all their dominoes, it is called “going out”, or when the game is blocked. Here’s how it works:

Going Out

If you are the first player to use all of your dominoes, then you are the winner of the round. The other players add the pips on their remaining dominoes, this becomes your score for the round. Then, the next round is played with the person who won the previous round having the first move and domino, as it was mentioned earlier.

Blocked Game Scoring

When the game blocks, as it was mentioned earlier, the winner is the person with the fewest pips left in their hand. The winner scores the points, which come from adding all pips from the dominoes held by other players. In case of draw between players, then the players with the lowest score share the winning scores by equally dividing them. For example, if there are two players who tied for having the lowest pips count in their hands, and they were winning 10 points, they will now each earn 5 points.

Keeping Track

You can keep track of scores with a pencil and paper, or use a whiteboard, to note down the scores for each player. The game is played until a player reaches a target total score, such as 100, 150, or any agreed score.

Strategies and Tips

Want to become a domino pro? Here are some tips to help you play better and enjoy more.

Playing Doubles

Doubles can be powerful! Use them strategically to either get rid of your own dominoes or to block the chain and other players. Don’t be afraid to play a double if it gives you a clear opportunity to win. Because it opens up another direction of play.

Saving High Value Dominoes

Keep an eye on your higher-value dominoes, they can be kept to be played towards the end, or they can be used as a strong strategic move if the opportunity occurs. If you have a domino with a high number of pips, try to play it on a side that is likely to be covered by the other player or if you want to try to block a player’s move.

Watch Your Opponents

Pay attention to what your opponents are playing. If you see that they are using a lot of one number, try to use your dominoes to play a domino with a similar number on the open end of chain to block or to disrupt their moves and help yourself.

Plan Ahead

Think ahead! Try to plan a few moves in advance, if possible. This will help you not get stuck with bad dominoes at the end of the round and it can make you play your dominoes more effectively. Think if your domino that you have will help you win the game.

Variations of the Game

Dominoes have many variations. While the rules are mostly the same as the standard double six game, some variations add extra fun to your game.

Draw Dominoes

In this version, if a player doesn’t have a playable domino, they keep drawing from the boneyard until they can make a move. The rules for scoring remains the same, but this will add some more elements to the game.

Block Dominoes

This variation is slightly different from the usual scoring, if the game is blocked by players who run out of dominoes and no other player can play more dominoes. The winner is the player with the lowest sum of pips. In this variation, there is no drawing from the boneyard. If you cannot play, you skip your turn.

Mexican Train Dominoes

This is a more complex version, which uses a central ‘train’ and individual ‘trains’ for each player, with the double as the starting point. This variation requires a larger set of dominoes, often the double 9, or even double 12 or higher.

Muggins/All Fives

This variation is more strategic and allows players to score more points. The score is based on the sum of open ends. For example, if the open ends of the chain add up to a multiple of 5, such as 5,10,15 etc., then that is how many scores the player wins.

Now you know how to play double six dominoes game! Go grab your set, invite some friends or family, and start playing. Remember, practice makes perfect, so the more you play, the better you’ll get. Have lots of fun, and enjoy this timeless game. The world of dominoes awaits you!