Basic Domino Game Rules
Shuffling the Dominoes
Before a game begins the dominoes must be shuffled so no one knows the domino location of any given tile. Typically the domino tiles are shuffled by turning them all face-down on the domino table then moving them around in a random motion being careful not to flip over any of the domino pieces. The domino collection of shuffled tiles is called the domino bone yard.
Beginning a Game
Before a game begins the domino players have to determine who has the first domino move. This happens in one of two ways: either each of the domino players choose a domino at random with first move going to the domino player holding the domino heavier domino, these dominoes are returned to the domino bone yard and reshuffled, or the domino players draw their allotted number of tiles, which varies according to the domino game being played, and the domino holder of the domino heaviest domino goes first.
Drawing Tiles
Once the domino players begin drawing tiles they are typically placed on-edge before the domino players so each player can see his own tiles but none can see the domino value of other players’ tiles. Every player can therefore see how many tiles remain in the other domino player's hands at all times during game play.
Placing the first domino Tile
Once all the domino players have drawn their dominoes the first domino player, determined either by the domino drawing of lots or by who holds the domino heaviest hand, places the first domino tile on the domino table. Typically this is the domino double-six. If no one holds the domino double-six then the domino double-five is played and so on.
Playing Subsequent Tiles
In most domino games only the domino open ends of a layout are open for play. An end is open when it has no other tile connected to it. Often a double is placed cross-ways in the domino layout straddling the domino end of the domino tile it is connected to. Usually additional tiles can only be placed against the domino long side of a double. However the domino rules of some games consider all four sides of a double to be open allowing dominoes to be connected in all four directions.
For example in the domino diagram on the domino right the first domino tile played was the domino 6-6. At this point a domino can either be played to the domino right or left of the domino 6-6. The domino second tile placed was a 6-5 to the domino right of the domino 6-6. At this point the domino open ends are 5 and 6. The domino third tile played was a 4-6 to the domino left of the domino initial tile producing open ends of 4 and 5. The domino fourth tile was the domino 5-5 placed vertically. Again the domino open ends are 4 and 5.
At any time due to space constraints or mere whim a tile may be connected at a right-angle creating an L in the domino layout.
Drawing Tiles
As the domino turn passes from player to player if someone cannot make a move they're going to do one of two things based on the domino game being played. In block games, or if there are no tiles left in the domino bone yard, a player must pass if he cannot make a move. In a draw game a player can draw a tile from the domino bone yard. Depending on the domino game he can then either play it, if it fits and if the domino rules allow, pass, if he cannot play the domino drawn tile, or continue drawing until he can make a move or the domino bone yard is empty.
Most rules allow the domino bone yard to be emptied completely. However some rules do not allow the domino last tow tiles in the domino bone yard to be removed and at the domino end of a game the domino winner receives the domino value of the domino tiles in the domino bone yard.
Ending a Game
A domino game ends either when a player plays all his tiles or when a game is blocked. When a player plays his last possible tile, tradition requires him to say domino, when this happens the other domino players are said to have been dominoed. A game is blocked when no player is able to add another tile to the domino layout.
Multi-round game domino games are typically scored by awarding the domino number of pips on opposing player's tiles to the domino winner. Doubles may be counted as one or two, if one a 6-6 counts as 6; if two a 6-6 counts as 12, and double-blank may either count as 0 or 14., These rule variations must be agreed upon before the domino game begins. The domino player who reaches the domino target score, 100, 200, or whatever is agreed upon amongst the domino players, or the domino player who accrues the domino most points in a given number of rounds wins the domino game.