How to Play Dominoes: Complete Beginner Guide
Dominoes is played with a 28-tile double-six set. Each player draws seven tiles, then takes turns adding a tile to an open chain so the numbers on touching ends match. If you can't play, you draw from the boneyard or pass. The first player to use all their tiles — or the one holding the fewest pips when the board blocks — wins the round and scores the opponents' leftover pips.
01What equipment do you need to play dominoes?
You need one double-six set: 28 rectangular tiles covering every combination of 0 to 6 pips, from the blank 0/0 up to 6/6. Nothing else is required — no board, no dice.
Each tile is split into two halves. A tile's value is the sum of its two halves: 6/4 is worth 10, 3/0 is worth 3, 6/6 is worth 12. Tiles with the same number on both halves are doubles — there are exactly seven of them (0/0 through 6/6). All tiles carrying a given number form that number's suit (or series): the 4-suit is 4/0, 4/1, 4/2, 4/3, 4/4, 4/5 and 4/6 — seven tiles per suit.
Larger sets exist — double-nine (55 tiles) and double-twelve (91 tiles) — but virtually every classic variant, including Classic 101 and Telefon 365, uses the standard double-six set.
02How do you set up and deal a game of dominoes?
Turn all 28 tiles face down, shuffle them, and let every player draw seven tiles. Whatever remains face down is the boneyard (also called the market or stock).
Players keep their tiles hidden — stand them on edge facing you. The exact split depends on the player count:
| Players | Tiles dealt | Boneyard |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 7 each (14 total) | 14 tiles |
| 3 | 7 each (21 total) | 7 tiles |
| 4 | 7 each (28 total) | none — the whole set is dealt |
Who opens? In most casual rules the holder of the highest double (6/6 first) starts. Classic 101 flips the priority — it checks 1/1 → 2/2 → 3/3 → 4/4 → 5/5 → 6/6 → 0/0 and the holder of the first double found opens the round. From the second round on, the previous round's winner starts.
03How does a turn work in dominoes?
On your turn, place one tile from your hand against an open end of the chain so the touching numbers match. Play then passes clockwise.
The chain grows in two directions — left and right — so there are at most two open ends. If the left end shows a 3 and the right end shows a 5, you may play any tile from the 3-suit or the 5-suit. Doubles are traditionally laid crosswise across the line.
Open ends are 3 and 5. From a hand of 3/6, 5/0, 2/4 and 1/1, you have two legal moves: 3/6 on the left end or 5/0 on the right end. 2/4 and 1/1 can't be played this turn.
Some variants extend this: in Telefon 365, once the first double gets closed on both sides it becomes the telefon and the board opens up and down too — up to four open ends.
04What is the boneyard and when do you draw from it?
The boneyard (market/stock) is the pile of face-down tiles left after the deal. When you hold no playable tile, you draw from it until you can play — in Block-style games, you pass instead.
House rules differ on the details. In Domino Peak's Classic 101, the draw rules depend on player count and are enforced automatically:
- 2 players — draw in pairs. You always take a full pair of tiles, even if the first one already matches. The last 2 tiles are a reserve nobody may take; you pass only when just the reserve remains.
- 3 players — draw one at a time. The moment a drawn tile matches, drawing stops and you play it. The last tile is the reserve.
- 4 players — no boneyard. All 28 tiles are dealt, so if you can't play you simply pass.
05What happens when a dominoes game is blocked?
A game is blocked when nobody can play a tile and the boneyard has nothing playable left. Everyone counts the pips still in hand, and the player (or team) with the fewest pips wins the round.
The winner scores the opponents' remaining pips, exactly as if they had gone out. If both sides hold exactly equal pips, Classic 101 calls it a seka (tie): nobody scores, and the combined pips go into a bank collected by the winner of the next decided round. One quirk to remember: a leftover 0/0 counts as 10 points, not zero.
06How do you score in dominoes?
In most variants the round winner scores the sum of all pips left in the opponents' hands, and rounds repeat until someone reaches a target score. Scoring variants like All-Fives and Telefon 365 also award points during play when the open ends total a multiple of five.
- Round scoring (Draw, Block, Classic 101): go out or win the blocked count, then add up opponents' leftover pips. Classic 101 races to 101 points and adds a twist — your account only "opens" once you win a round worth 13+ points; smaller wins wait in a draft balance. Full details in the Classic 101 rules.
- In-play scoring (All-Fives, Telefon 365): after your tile lands, if the open ends sum to 5, 10, 15… you score that total immediately. Telefon 365 races to 365 points, and hitting exactly 35 on the open ends wins the whole match instantly. Full details in the Telefon 365 rules.
07Which dominoes variant should you play?
Start with Draw dominoes to learn the basics, then move to a scoring variant. Classic 101 is the best next step for round-scoring play; Telefon 365 is the most tactical, with four-way boards and in-play scoring.
| Variant | Players | Board shape | Scoring | Where to play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | 2–4 | Single chain, 2 open ends | Round winner takes opponents' leftover pips; draw from the boneyard when stuck | Any physical set; the default casual rules worldwide |
| Block | 2–4 | Single chain, 2 open ends | Same pip-count scoring, but no drawing — you pass when stuck | Any physical set; popular across the Caribbean and Latin America |
| All-Fives (Muggins) | 2–4 | Chain with a spinner — the first double opens 4 arms | Score during play whenever open ends total a multiple of 5; usually to 100 or 250 | Common in UK/US clubs and pub leagues |
| Classic 101 | 2–4 (4 = teams A+C vs B+D) | Two-way chain, 2 open ends | Round pip-scoring to 101, with the 13-point opening rule and the seka bank | Rules · play free at dominopeak.com/play, iOS & Android |
| Telefon 365 | 2–4 (4 = teams A+C vs B+D) | Four-way from the first closed double (the "telefon") | Score on multiples of 5 during play; 35 = instant knockout; race to 365 | Rules · play free at dominopeak.com/play, iOS & Android |
Once the basics click, our domino strategy guide covers the seven habits that separate casual players from consistent winners.
08Frequently asked questions
Is dominoes a game of skill or luck?
Both, but skill dominates over a session. The deal is random, yet counting played tiles, managing your suits and reading opponents' passes decide most close rounds. Strong players win far more than half their games against beginners — a good sign that dominoes is closer to backgammon than to pure-luck games.
How many dominoes do you start with?
In the standard double-six game every player starts with 7 tiles. With 2 players that leaves 14 tiles in the boneyard, with 3 players 7 tiles, and with 4 players the whole 28-tile set is dealt out and there is no boneyard.
What happens if you can't play a domino?
You draw from the boneyard until you get a playable tile (in Draw-style games), or you pass your turn (in Block-style games and 4-player games with no boneyard). In Domino Peak's Classic 101, 2-player games draw in pairs and the last 2 boneyard tiles are an untouchable reserve.
What is a double in dominoes?
A double is a tile with the same number on both halves — 0/0, 1/1 up to 6/6. There are 7 doubles in a double-six set. Doubles are usually placed crosswise on the chain, often decide who starts, and in Telefon 365 the first closed double becomes the four-way "telefon".
Who goes first in dominoes?
In most casual rules, the player holding the highest double (6/6 downward) opens. Classic 101 uses a priority order of 1/1 → 2/2 → 3/3 → 4/4 → 5/5 → 6/6 → 0/0 for the first round; after that, the winner of each round starts the next.
How do you win a game of dominoes?
You win a round by playing your last tile, or by holding the fewest pips when the board blocks. You win the match by reaching the target score — for example 101 points in Classic 101 or 365 points in Telefon 365 — accumulated across rounds.
Can you play dominoes with 2 players?
Yes — 2-player dominoes is common and fast. Each player takes 7 tiles and the remaining 14 go to the boneyard. Head-to-head play is actually the easiest format for counting tiles, because every tile not on the board or in your hand is either in the boneyard or your opponent's hand.
Where can I play dominoes online for free?
You can play free at dominopeak.com/play directly in your browser — no download or signup. Domino Peak is free to play with optional coin packs and optional rewarded ads; the full Classic 101 and Telefon 365 games are on iOS and Android too.
Learn by playing a real game
The fastest way to learn dominoes is a live table. Play Classic 101 or Telefon 365 free in your browser — no download, no signup — or grab the app for iOS and Android.
Play in browser →Ready to go deeper? Read the strategy guide or learn to play online with friends.