Dominoes: how to score, matching moves, 2 players

Dominoes seem simple until you get to scoring: "how do you even count points?", "is it true that ends of 0 and 6 force you to pass?", "and how do you play with two players?". Let's break down the rules of classic dominoes (the double-six set) and how it works in the online version at muta.pro, with tile examples.

In short: the key answers

Points are the sum of the pips on the tiles in your hand. When the round ends, each player adds up the pips on their remaining tiles; the one with the smaller total wins.
You play by matching numbers. A tile is placed against an open end of the chain if it has a matching number. Nothing to place — you draw from the boneyard.
"Ends of 0 and 6" is not an automatic pass. You only pass if you have no tile with a 0 or a 6 (and the boneyard is empty). If you have a playable tile, you must move.
With two players each draws 7 tiles. The other 14 go face down into the boneyard — a reserve for drawing.

The set, the deal and what a tile looks like

Classic dominoes use the double-six set: 28 tiles, each with two numbers from 0 (blank) to 6. Tiles where both numbers are the same are called doubles.

Three tiles: a regular 6-3, a double 4-4 (both numbers equal) and 0-5 with a blank half. The set has 28 tiles in all, and each number appears 8 times — seven tiles plus the double.

The deal. Each player draws tiles sight unseen: with two players, 7 each; with three or four, usually 7 each. The remaining tiles form the boneyard (the stock) face down.
The first move. Play usually starts with the highest double or by agreement; at muta.pro the game sets the order.

How to move: matching numbers

The chain grows from both sides. A tile can be placed against the end whose number matches a number on your tile. The chain always has two open ends — you can play to either one.

Chain 3–5 · 5–5 · 5–2: the tiles are joined by matching numbers. The open ends of this chain are 3 on the left and 2 on the right; new tiles can be added to either of them.

A double at the end counts as usual

A double is usually placed crosswise, but its open number takes part in the end count just like any other tile. There is no doubling of the end's points in classic dominoes.

The boneyard, passing and the blocked game (fish)

If you have nothing to place against the chain, you don't pass right away — first you draw tiles from the boneyard until a playable one appears or until the boneyard is empty.

Passing. You pass only when you have no playable tile and the boneyard is already empty. Then the turn goes to your opponent.
The blocked game (fish). If no one can move and the boneyard is empty, the round is blocked (a "fish"). The game stops and you move on to scoring.

How to score

The big question. Points are counted from the tiles left in your hand: you add up all the pips on them. The game (or, in a fish, the round) is won by whoever has the smaller point total — ideally zero, when you have played all your tiles.

= 10 + 4 + 3 = 17 points

Example hand: 6-4 (10 points) + 2-2 (4) + 0-3 (3) = 17 points. The smaller this total at the end of the game, the better — which is why you get rid of heavy tiles with big numbers first.

Keep track of what's on the table

Each number in the set appears exactly 8 times. By noting which numbers have already been played, it's easy to estimate what your opponent has left and "close" them out — leaving ends they have nothing to place against.

Is it true that ends of 0 and 6 always force a pass

No — that's a common misconception. Ends of "0 and 6" block nothing by themselves. A pass applies only to a specific player, and only if they have no tile with a 0 or a 6 and the boneyard is already empty.

ends: 0

This chain has open ends of 0 (on the left) and 6 (on the right). Anyone who has a tile with a 0 or a 6 in hand can move. Only the player with no such tile and an empty boneyard passes.

How to play dominoes with two players

7 tiles each. From the 28 tiles the two players draw 7 each; the remaining 14 go face down into the boneyard.
The same rules. You play by matching numbers, draw from the boneyard when you can't move, and when it's blocked it's a fish and you score points.
Easier to count. With two players it's easy to track the numbers played: anything not on the table and not in your hand is either in your opponent's hand or in the boneyard.

Common questions

How do you score in dominoes?

When the round ends (someone has played all their tiles or a fish occurs), each player adds up the pips on the tiles they have left. The player with the lowest point total in hand wins; whoever played all their tiles has 0 and usually wins.

Is it true that ends of 0 and 6 make you pass?

No. Ends of 0 and 6 do not mean an automatic pass. Anyone who has a tile with a 0 or a 6 can move. A pass applies only to the player who has no playable tile and whose boneyard is already empty.

How do you play dominoes with two players?

From the double-six set (28 tiles) the two players draw 7 tiles each, and the remaining 14 form the boneyard face down. After that the rules are the usual ones: you play by matching numbers, draw from the boneyard when you can't move, and score the pips in hand when it's blocked.

What is a fish (blocked game) in dominoes?

A fish is a blocked round: no one can move and the boneyard is empty. The game stops and you move on to scoring — the player with the smaller point total in hand wins.

How many tiles are in dominoes and how many are dealt?

The classic double-six set has 28 tiles with numbers from 0 to 6. Each player is dealt 7 tiles, and the rest go into the face-down boneyard for drawing.

What do you do when you can't move?

Draw tiles from the boneyard one at a time until a playable one appears. You can place it against any open end where the number matches. Only when the boneyard is empty and you have no playable tile do you pass.

Does a double count in a special way?

When scoring the pips in hand, a double counts as the ordinary sum of its pips (for example, 6-6 is 12 points). At the end of a chain its open number also takes part as usual — there is no doubling of the end's points in classic dominoes.

Can you play dominoes online for free?

Yes, at muta.pro you can play dominoes online for free and without registration — with two players or a group, against a bot or with friends via a room code.

Check the rules at the table

Now the disputed points are settled: points are the sum of the pips in hand (lower is better), you play by matching numbers, "0 and 6 on the ends" doesn't block the game, and with two players you draw 7 tiles each. Lock it in with practice: play dominoes online at muta.pro for free with two players or a group. A full breakdown of all the rules is on the dominoes rules page.