Dominoes

How to play Dominoes

Match the open ends

Glintwick uses a double-six set of 28 tiles for two to four players. On your turn, place one tile so one of its halves matches the number at either open end of the line. Doubles are set crosswise. In the first hand the highest double opens (or the heaviest tile, if no double was dealt); after that, the winner of each hand leads with any tile.

Draw and block games

In the draw game, two players take seven tiles each and three or four players take five; the rest form the boneyard. If you cannot match, draw until you can, and pass only when the boneyard is empty. In the block game everyone takes seven tiles, nobody draws, and a player who cannot match passes.

Scoring

Play your last tile to win the hand and score the pips left in everyone else’s hands. If every player passes in turn, the line is blocked: the lowest pip count wins the hand, and tied winners share the points, rounded down. The first player to reach the target ends the match; the highest total wins, and equal totals share it.

Alderwick’s tips

Lay heavy tiles early so they cannot count against you. Keep a variety of numbers in hand, and notice which numbers make another player draw or pass.

Solo, friends and Quick Match

Solo matches save automatically on this device. Private rooms begin in a lobby: everyone presses Ready, then the creator starts, and empty seats become computer guests. Quick Match searches for twenty seconds, then fills empty seats. No open chat. Settings include tile style, soft sounds, light/dark and flat mode. Reduced motion is respected. Hints are suggestions; you choose your own move. No wagering.