How to Play Dominoes — Rules for Beginners (2026)

Dominoes Rules — A Complete Beginner Guide

Dominoes is a classic tile game that has been played for centuries. Simple enough for children to learn but strategic enough to challenge adults, dominoes is perfect for casual gaming. This guide covers the two most popular variants: Block Dominoes and Draw Dominoes.

The Domino Set

A standard double-six domino set contains 28 tiles. Each tile has two ends, and each end shows a number from 0 to 6 represented by dots (pips). Every possible combination appears exactly once — so there is a 0-0 tile, a 0-1 tile, a 0-2 tile, all the way up to 6-6. Tiles with the same number on both ends (0-0, 1-1, 2-2, etc.) are called doubles.

Block Dominoes Rules

In Block Dominoes, two to four players each draw seven tiles (two players) or five tiles (three to four players). The remaining tiles stay face down and are not used. The player with the highest double starts the game by placing that tile in the center. Players take turns extending the chain by matching one end of their tile to an open end of the chain.

If a player cannot match either end, they pass their turn. The game ends when a player places their last tile or when no player can make a move. The winner is the player who goes out first, or if blocked, the player with the lowest total pip count in their hand.

Draw Dominoes Rules

Draw Dominoes follows the same basic rules as Block, but with one key difference: when you cannot match either end, you must draw tiles from the remaining pile (the boneyard) until you can play or the boneyard is empty. Only two tiles remain in the boneyard — if you still cannot play after drawing all available tiles, you pass. This variant reduces the chance of getting stuck and rewards strategic drawing.

Scoring Variations

In scoring games, the winner of each round scores the total pip count of all opponents' remaining tiles. Games are typically played to a target score of 100 or 150 points. In some variations, the player who goes out scores a bonus, and doubles count double their pip value.

Getting Started Tips

• Play your doubles early since they are harder to match later
• Try to keep a variety of numbers in your hand for flexibility
• Pay attention to what numbers your opponents cannot match
• In Draw Dominoes, drawing strategically can give you information about what remains

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