Dominoes · Rules & strategy

Tiles and the deal

A double-six set has 28 different tiles, from 0-0 to 6-6. They are shuffled face down and dealt. In the draw game each player gets 7 tiles with two players or 5 with three or four; the rest form the boneyard. In the block game everyone gets 7 tiles regardless of the number of players, and the leftover tiles (14 with two players, 7 with three) stay face down and out of play.

Opening tile and turns

The player holding the highest double (6-6, otherwise 5-5, and so on) leads with it. If no one holds a double, the holder of the heaviest tile leads with that tile. Play then passes in seat order: on your turn you add one tile that matches the number at the left or right end of the line. Doubles are placed crosswise.

When you cannot play

In the draw game you draw from the boneyard one tile at a time until you can play (and may play the tile you drew); if the boneyard is empty you pass. In the block game there is no drawing — you simply pass. You may never pass while you hold a playable tile.

End of the hand and scoring

When a player plays their last tile they win, scoring the pips left in everyone else’s hands. If no one can play and no tiles can be drawn, the hand is blocked and the player with the lowest pip total wins. Equal totals share a place; if everyone is level the hand is a draw. Players are ranked by remaining pips, and the ranking feeds directly into ratings.

Controls

Your tiles are shown at the bottom of the screen, and playable ones lift up with a green outline. Tap a tile to play it. If it fits both ends, green ghost tiles appear at each end — tap the one you want (or use the “Left end” / “Right end” buttons). When you cannot play, a “Draw” or “Pass” button appears. For other players you only see how many tiles they hold.

Play heavy tiles and doubles early

If the hand blocks, the pips left in your hand decide the winner, so unload heavy tiles like 6-6 and 6-5 early. Doubles only connect to one number and are harder to place, so get rid of them when you have the chance.

Keep a variety of numbers

A hand with many different numbers can follow whichever end opens up. If you hold several tiles of one number, make that number an open end — it becomes “your” suit that you can keep playing on.

Remember who passed

A pass tells everyone that the player has neither of the numbers on the open ends. Close the ends with those numbers and they will have to pass or draw again. Each number appears on seven tiles, so counting the ones on the table and in your hand tells you how many the others can still hold.

Using the AI levels

Easy plays any legal tile. Normal sheds heavy tiles and keeps a balanced hand. Hard also blocks numbers that opponents have shown they lack, then deals out the unseen tiles many times, plays each hand to the end and picks the move that wins most often.

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