Dominoes

Dominoes is a tabletop game played with 28 tiles. Match identical numbers and empty your hand before your opponents. Choose a table for two, three or four players and play a match to 100 points. Playable tiles are highlighted, so you can concentrate on choosing a useful move rather than searching for a legal connection.

How to play Dominoes

Choose the number of players before starting a match. Everyone receives seven tiles. Computer opponents with different nicknames fill the remaining seats; you can invite friends to the same table through the game's shared friends menu. Everyone plays for themselves: there are no teams.

The player holding the highest double among the dealt tiles opens the round. A double has matching halves, such as 6–6. If nobody holds a double, the tile with the largest pip total starts. An on-screen hint identifies the required opening tile.

After the opening, players take turns. Add a tile to either free end of the chain so that the touching numbers match. For example, an exposed five accepts any tile in your hand with five pips on one half. The chain is arranged on the table, while the scores and remaining tile counts appear beside the players.

Highlighted legal moves

Playable tiles in your hand are highlighted during your turn. If a selected tile fits only one end, it goes straight onto the table. If both exposed ends show the same number, the tile is placed on the left automatically. If the numbers differ and the tile fits both ends, choose one of the highlighted ends. You cannot place an incompatible tile or play on another participant's behalf.

Highlights show what is allowed, but do not choose a strategy. The same tile can change the exposed numbers in different ways, so check the rest of your hand before deciding.

Drawing and passing

In a two-player game, 14 tiles remain in the boneyard after the deal; with three players, seven remain. When no tile fits, draw one at a time until you can play. You cannot draw instead of making an available move.

With four players, all tiles are dealt immediately, so there is no boneyard. When the boneyard is empty and nothing in your hand fits, use Pass. Once someone plays another tile, the exposed ends and your available options may change.

Rounds, blocked games and points

A round ends when a player places their final tile. That player scores the total pips left in the other players' hands. Tiles still in the boneyard do not count.

If every participant passes consecutively, the round is blocked. The player with the lowest pip total in their hand wins and scores the pips remaining in the other hands. If several players share the lowest total, the round is a tie and nobody scores.

Cumulative scores carry over between rounds. The match ends when a player reaches or exceeds 100 points. The results table lets you compare remaining pips and overall scores before continuing to the next round or starting another match.

Saving and taking a break

Your own unfinished match is saved on this device when you play as a guest, or to your account when you are signed in. Use Continue match to return to it. Starting a new match replaces the unfinished one while keeping your overall results. A pause button and menu are available when you need a break.

Tips

• When two moves look equally useful, discard a high-pip tile: it will be worth more to an opponent if you lose the round.
• Keep some tiles with recurring numbers so that you have a continuation after your own move.
• Before choosing an end, check which new number will be exposed. Removing one tile quickly is not always better than preparing your next turn.
• Watch passes: they reveal which exposed numbers an opponent cannot currently match.

Similar games

Sudoku also rewards thinking through the consequences of a choice, but uses a number grid without opponents. Visit Puzzle Games for other games that test logic and observation.