Block Dominoes
The most basic game using dominoes.
Number of Players
The game is for 2 - 4 players.
Set Up
- Any dominoes set will do
Place all the dominoes face down and shuffle them. For 2 players, both players draw 7 dominoes from the shuffled dominoes. All other player counts, the players each draw 5 dominoes.
Turn order is then determined using any sort of method desired.
Game Play
The first player will play a domino on the table and is called the “set”. All subsequent players place a domino next to the appropriate side that matches one of the sides of the played domino. If a double sided domino (one that has the same amount of pips on both sides) is used, it is played at a different angle and no dominos may be played on the top or bottom of the double sided domino. However, they may be played on either side.
If a player cannot play a domino, they are blocked and must pass to the next player.
Winning the Game
The first player to play all their dominos down says “domino” and wins. If all players are blocked, reveal the hands and count the pips. The player with the lowest pip count wins.
In any case, their score is the total of the other hands.
Draw Dominoes
A more advanced version of Block Dominoes.
Number of Players
The game is for 2 - 4 players.
Set Up
- Any dominoes set will do
Place all the dominoes face down and shuffle them. For 2 players, both players draw 7 dominoes from the shuffled dominoes. All other player counts, the players each draw 5 dominoes. The remaining dominos are called the “boneyard”.
Turn order is then determined using any sort of method desired.
Game Play
The first player will play a domino on the table and is called the “set”. All subsequent players place a domino next to the appropriate side that matches one of the sides of the played domino. If a double sided domino (one that has the same amount of pips on both sides) is used, it is played at a different angle and no dominos may be played on the top or bottom of the double sided domino. However, they may be played on either side.
If a player cannot play a domino, they are blocked and must draw a domino from the boneyard until a play may be made. The exception is if the boneyard is exhausted. For 2-player games, this is when there are 2 dominos. For 3- and 4-player games, this is when there is 1 domino.
Winning the Game
The first player to play all their dominos down says “domino” and wins.
If the boneyard is exhausted, reveal the hands and count the pips. The player with the lowest pip count wins.
In any case, their score is the total of the other hands.
Mahjong
An ancient Chinese social tile game.
Number of Players
The game is for 2 - 4 players.
Set Up
- One mahjong set
- One six-sided die
Roll the die to determine turn order. Players are seated around the table using wind directions, starting with east, which is the dealer. The tiles are shuffled face down. The dealer draws 14 tiles and all subsequent players draw 13 tiles. Each player places the tiles on the long side with the back facing the other players and in a “wall” formation. Each player then pushes them together to form a square in the middle. The dealer then places a tile in the middle. Play starts with the player to the dealer’s right.
Game Play
During their turn, each player discards one tile. The player then draws from the pool or one from the discarded tiles.
Winning the Game
There are three combinations that can win in mahjong: chi, pong, and gong. Chi is formed by 3 sequential tiles of the same suit. Pong is formed by three of a single kind of the same suit. Finally, gong is formed by four tiles made of the same suit and rank.
The wind and dragon tiles do not have suits and can be applied to any combination.
Muggins Dominoes
An advanced version of Block Dominoes.
Number of Players
The game is for 2 - 4 players, with forming teams as an option for 4 players.
Set Up
- Any dominoes set will do
Place all the dominoes face down and shuffle them. Each player draws 5 dominoes. The remaining dominos are called the “boneyard”.
Turn order is then determined using any sort of method desired.
Game Play
The first player will play a domino on the table and is called the “set”. All subsequent players place a domino next to the appropriate side that matches one of the sides of the played domino. If a double sided domino (one that has the same amount of pips on both sides) is used, it is played at a different angle and no dominos may be played on the top or bottom of the double sided domino. However, they may be played on either side.
If a player cannot play a domino, they are blocked and must draw from the boneyard until they can play a domino. The exception is if the boneyard is exhausted. For 2-player games, this is when there are 2 dominos. For 3- and 4-player games, this is when there is 1 domino.
Players score when the both ends of the domino line, with doubles counting both sides, are multiples of 5. For each multiple of 5, the player scores 1 point.
Winning the Game
The first player to play all their dominos down says “domino” and wins.
If the boneyard is exhausted, reveal the hands and count the pips. The player with the lowest pip count wins.
In any case, add to the winning player’s score the total of the other hands.