Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By Jermaine Clason
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
COPYRIGHT
CONTENTS
Preface ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
COMMON WAYS TO PLAY DOMINO …………………………………………………………………………………….… 5
1.- Blocked Round to Round …………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
2.- Drawed Round to Round …………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
3.- The Fourteen Dominoes Round to Round ……………………………………………………………. 12
4.- Between Three with seven Dominoes each ……………………………………………………….. 20
5.- Between Three with nine Dominoes each …………………………………………………………. 21
6.- Between Four with seven Dominoes each, playing each player individually ………. 22
7.- Between Three or Four with five Dominoes each, playing each player individually …...…….. 23
8.- Decimals …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24
9.- Spanish Cross …….…………………………………………………………………………………………….. .. 27
10.- Venezuelan Cross …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29
11.- Tighted Up ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30
12.- The Blindie ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30
13.- Two for Two or “The Company” ……………………………………………………………………….. 33
HOW TO PLAY A HAND OF DOMINO …………………………………………………………………………………… 36
1.- Hand where you only have one Double ……………………………………………………..……… 37
2.- Hand where you have some Doubles. …………………………………..……………………...……. 38
3.- Hand where you have one Double that goes with another. …………………………….…. 38
4.- Hand where you have a lot of Doubles that go with another. …………………………….. 39
5.- Hand where there are a variety of Doubles available: some by their own and
some that go with others. …………………………………………………………………………….…… 40
6.- Hand with a suit of five dominoes with Doubles: if they are White's, one's
or two's. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 41
7.- Hand with a suit of five dominoes with Doubles: if they are three's, four's or
six's. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 41
8.- Hand with a suit of five dominoes without a doublé. ………………………………………. 42
9.- Hand with a suit of five dominoes with Doubles and flaws. ………………………….... 43
10.- Hand with a suit of six dominoes with a Double. …………………………………………… 44
11.- Hand with a suit with six dominoes without a Double. ………………………………… . 44
12.- Hand with a suit of seven dominoes. ………………………………………………………………. 45
THE DOUBLET MATCHER START ……………………………………………………………………………………… 46
First Domino. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 48
Second Domino. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 49
Third Domino. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 52
Fourth Domino. …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 52
Fifth and Sixth Domino. …..…………………………………………………………………………… 52
THE BLOCK ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53
MATCHED DOMINOES …………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 57
GLOSARY ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 59
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
PREFACE
Domino is a game that has been played for long time, it is unknown it's beginnigs. It is believed
however that is was invented by a French who's last name was “Domino”, many people also think that
it was invented by the Chinese, the Arabians, the Greeks or the Egypcians. Without concern on its
origins, the truth is that it is an ancient game which became popular in France, Italy and Spain, during
the 18th Century.
Domino is a table game that is played throughout the entire world and owns an increible
amount of fans. It is interesting and fun, with it's own characteristics, were some factors come into
play: Knowledge, Psychology, Malice, Randomness and Deductive View, abilities that if cultivated will
turn you into a Master of the game. Half Cience and half Luck, this game in some moments will need
some Mathematical Distinction because of the endless amount of combinations you are able to use.
You should be willing to play and learn from every lose you have, because it's from those loses that
that you will learn the most. When your rival is, let's say, better than you, he will teach you something
if you think the “why” behind his moves, and when you are not playing, always try to look at that one
person who is good at playing it, analize and study all the moves you see someone else doing, without
wondering the dominoes your opponent has, because this can lead you off every intuitive thought
you're trying to make. Adquire the habit of deep thought and deduction, because those are important
abilities to own in this fascinating game.
You must put complete interest in the game, even if you're just playing for enjoyment,
therefore that's the only way you will get used to become an efficient player every time to sit down an
play. The majority of the players that play on a regular basis do 3 or 4 rounds of solid technique, just to
fall apart at the end because of tiredness or other reasons, losing rounds that they really should had
won without a doubt, if they had just kept they're focus from the beginning.
Playing Domino is not just sitting down and trying to obtain a 100 points, it's really doing a
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
good amount of matches against the same couple and beating them thoughout 10 rounds at least. On
the long run, it is the consistency of the player that will determine the quality and effectiveness of his
playing. As Domino is a game played by 4 people (2 against 2), it is eventually a team game, where the
couples coordinate a combine their play to display a more effective game, looking either to win or rule
out when they feel they're about to lose.
When you play against a solid player, always try to make them play with someone who is
inferior to you, so you can boost your probabilities to win.
I'm going to guide thoughout this journey, making sure you learn and execute all of the
techniques I'm about to teach you.
Domino that is played in the majority of the world has 28 dominoes, combining it's spots, sums
a total of 168, with 7 One's, 7 Two's, 7 Three's, 7 Four's, 7 Five's, 7 Six's and 7 Blanks, handing out
those 168 spots on 28 dominoes, it gives us an average of 6 points per domino, each one having it's
accompaniment that together, sum twelve points. The accompaniment of the “Double-Six” is the
“Double Blank”, the one from the “Six-Five” is “One-Blank”, the one from “Four-Three” is “Two-Three”,
etc. As a result, with the dominoes you can form a Fourteen Dozen because they are 28 dominoes.
As you can see, the average value of the dominoes equals the half of the highest Double. For
this type of game limited to six and where the highest Double is Double-Six, the average value of the
dominoes is six. The number of dominoes limited to six equals the half of the product of 7 x 8. In other
words, it equals 56 divided by 2, which gives us 28. In a game limited to seven, on the other hand, it
will be 8 x 9 divided by 2, which gives us 36. And that way you can calculate the number of spots a
domino has by knowing the highest Double.
The total sum of the spots in the dominoes of a match, limited to six, equals 6 x 7 x 8, divided
by 2, which gives us 168. If the game is limited to seven we would have 7 x 8 x 9, divided by 2, which
gives 252. And that way you can calculate the number of spots that the game of Domino has only by
knowing the limit of dominoes.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Before play begins, all dominoes are turned facedown and mixed. Each player draws the
amount of dominoes he needs depending on the modality his playing and stands then on edge before
him so that his opponents cannot see his domino faces.
The players must write down the score they have after each round, until they sum the points
they need to win the match.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Domino Set
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
This type of game is done between two people shuffling the 28 dominoes and with each player
drawing 7 dominoes, leaving the 14 dominoes remaining facedown. It is played to 25, 50, 75 and 100
points respectively.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
In this type of game, like the next, the start is done by the player who has the highest Double,
and in the case that none of the participants has one, the start will be done by the mixed domino
which holds more points; the next start will be done alternatively. When the player doesn't have
dominoes to continue, he says pass.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Start is done by the player who has the highest Double. This is only an example, in the real game you must put
your hand facedown so your opponent doesn´t see it, which is needless to say.
Like the previous type of game, after shuffling, each player draws seven dominoes, the
difference between this modality and the previous one is that when the player doesn't have dominoes
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
to continue, he doesn't say pass. Instead, he must draw some dominoes from the draw pile, one by
one, until one can be put on the table. It is also played with points, it is rather interesting and it
teaches a lot to the beginners.
The start will be done by the mixed domino which holds more points.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
You must draw some dominoes from the draw pile, one by one, until one can be put on the table.
In this example, the player was able to draw the domino he needed to keep on playing in the third try.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
In this occasion, it´s time for your opponent to draw from the draw pile.
Which he is able to obtain in the second try, losing the round by blocking the four.
I consider this modality really useful as a way to learn. Allowing the beginner to get used to the
thinking behind this game. This is also the only modality of the game that holds a Mathematical Basis,
and the one who plays the must wins. And between two players, the one who starts normally is the
one who has the advantage. The start is done by the player who has the Double-Six and the next will
be done like in the previous matches alternatively.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
In this modality the player can calculate and announce the number of points they must score
before starting, doing quick calculations. The player must know two important aspects: First of all,
how many points those seven dominoes alike equal? Second of all, what is a combination?
For the first aspect, we use two simple formulas that allow us to calculate the number of spots
(the dark points in a domino) that have seven dominoes alike really fast: on one of those, it is only
necessary to add three to the number of spots, and multiply it by seven. Example: The seven Two's
have 35 points, because adding three to two we have five, that multiplied by seven, leaves us with a
result of 35. In the same way, the seven Four's hold 49 points and the seven Six's have 63.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
The other aspect is like this: multiply by seven the number of spots and add 21 to the result.
Example: the seven Five's hold 56 points, with the simple multiplication of 7 x 5 = 35, adding 21, we
obtain a total of 56. And so on...
As you can see, in numeric order, the quantity of spots increase from seven to seven; in that
way the seven Blanks hold 21, the seven One's hold 28, the seven Two's hold 35, the seven Three's
hold 42, the seven Four's 49, the seven Five's 56 and the seven Six's 63.
Knowing this simple calculations and the total of points of the 28 dominoes is 168, it will be
easy to know how many points you are going to count through a known combination.
For example, if it's based in a combination between Four's and Six's, where all the Four's and
all of the Six's come into play, we do the next calculation: The seven Six's that sum 63 points plus the
49 points that are the sum of the seven Four's, give us a total of 112 points, which substracting 10
points that sum the Four-Six, because this domino repeats again in the calculation, we are left with a
total of 102 points. As the 28 dominoes hold 168 points combined, we know that only 66 points do
not come into play, that are equivalent to the total sum of the other dominoes that are not Four's
neither Six's, and knowing that we own 20 points, we can discern that we can add up 46 points to our
opponent.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Development of the game, favoring the player B who adds 7 points to his own .
Before moving on, I will explain an important definition that is necessary to understand this
game, I'm taking about the “combinations”. A combination is a number of seven or eight dominoes
“linked” in a way that the first ones allow us to introduce the second ones. Therefore, these allow us
to introduce the first ones back again, having between them one or two Doubles respectively and the
mixed domino that links both games (Example: if the combination is based in Fix's and Six's, the mixed
domino is Five-Six, and if the combination is one based in Three's and Two's, the mixed domino is
Three-Two).
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Development of the previous Combination. Start done with a Double-Four. Block´s result: 46 x 20.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Combinations based on Seven and Eight Dominoes. From top to bottom it can be seen.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
The reader must apply these combinations during the game, with the purpose to get used
using them regularly.
And so on, taking number Six as a mainpoint, 480 combinations come as a result. The same
thing happens if we take number Five as a mainpoint, that will also give us a result of 480
combinations. To conclude, there are 1680 Forced and Accurate combinations in this game, that on it's
development can be either Normal combinations (Combinations where all the Six's and Five's come
into play) or Abnormal combinations (Combinatios where it's necessary that we hang a Double).
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
To clarify, this combinations are based in two spots, but in the game of Domino exists other
combinations based on Three spots, spots that we are going to talk about later.
Combinations Scores
As you can see, the combination that has the lowest performance is the one with Six’s and
Five’s, that gives us 60 points. And, the one which has the highest performance is the one with One’s
and Blanks, that gives us 120 points.
players own at the end. The start will be done by the player who holds the highest Double, and in he
case that none of the players has a Double, the start will be done by the player who has the highest
mixed domino. This rule is also implemented in the two previous modalities. The next start will be
done by turns in counterclockwise.
Here, the Double Blank is moved away so the players play with only 27 dominoes (When the
Double Blank is moved away, that allows the players to play with 9 dominoes each). The start is done
by the player who has the Double-Six, and the next ones will be done in counterclockwise. It is very
useful to learn because it teaches us to think.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Start done with the Double-Six, the Double Blank is moved away.
6.- Between Four with seven Dominoes each, playing each player
individually
This type of game, each player plays individually, the player who wins the rounds adds up the
points that are left in the dominoes of the other players when they finish the round. The start is done
by the player who has the Double-Six, and the next ones will be done in counterclockwise.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
7.- Between Three or Four with five Dominoes each, playing each
player individually
This modality is played from three to four people, with each player drawing (after shuffing of
course) five dominoes, and leaving the rest of the dominoes facedown. People are used to taking the
Double Blank out in this type of game. Each player plays individually and it is very common to play the
matches to 30 points, which allows the players to finish the rounds faster.
The start is done by the hghest Double, and the next ones, the player who had won the last
round is the one to starts. It is a type of game ruled by randomness only.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
It is a game really popular in England, where is called “Muggins”, in the US it is called “Moon”;
and in both countries the moves are done clockwise, opposing the previous modalities. The objective
of the game is to put the dominoes in a form that the ends of the game, added up gives us 5 or a
number multiple to that number.
Start done with a Double-Five to facilitate the move with multiples of five.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
In this sum, if the domino indicates it's ends, it refers to a Double, which enables us to consider
the total quantity of points that the Double has, for example: if the Double-Six is located by one side
(12 Points) and by other side is located a Double-Four (8 Points) or a Four-Three (7 Points), you will
write down the score based on 20 (12 + 8) or 15 points (12 + 7 = 19, it is taken as 15 points)
respectively. In the same way, if the start is done with a Double Four (8 Points) or a Double-Six (12
Points), if we add a Four-Two (6 Points) or a Six-Three (9 Points), according to another escenario, it will
allow the player to write down the quantity of 10 points (8 + 6 = 14, taken as 10 points) or 15 points
(12 + 6 = 18, taken as 15 points), respectively.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
The Double-Six is located by one side (12 Points) and by other side is located a Double-Four (8 Points), you will
write down the score based on 20 (12 + 8).
A good player on his moves will always try to use a five or one number multiple to five, while
avoiding that his opponent is able to do the same. You will be allowed to write down the score only if
you follow the requirement of doing using a Five or a multiple to five, the rounds will be done by
stipulated points. This modality can be played 2 to 4, knowing that each player must write down his
own scores. It can also be played 2 against 2 and the scores are written down in couples.
To start, the player is allowed to use the domino of his convinience. However, in this case it is
convinient to start with dominoes that sum either five or ten. Taking advantage of this permission to
pen the score.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
The player who wins the previous round will write down the points that sum the total of
dominoes that are left from the other players to his favor, but this score will be done based on 5's or a
number multiple to five, and only if it's played individually, because on some matches played by
couples, it will only be written the points of the losing couple.
If the sum is not done correctly, and it doesn't give us a five or a number multiple to five, it will
be written done the number multiple to five which is the nearest to the quantity of points that were
counted. For example: If the points sum 42, the player would have to write 40 points to himself, but if
it's the case that the sum is 43, he will write 45 instead. The same would happen if the sum if close to
five, allowing us to write down that figure if the domino on your hand is a 3, 4, 6 or 7. If the domino
you drawed is a sum of 2, no score will be written down.
A simple modification of this game is one where the scores are done when the ends of the
dominoes sum three or a number multiple to three.
Each player draws 5 dominoes, start done with the Double Blank.
This style of game consists in using dominoes from the 4 sides of the Double right after the
beginning of the match, forming a cross; once those 4 dominoes are played, you can keep putting the
corresponding Doubles to the remaining four sides of the dominoes. In the case that the player who
has the turn doesn't have any dominoes to play with, he will need to say pass. In this the case that the
player who starts doesn't have a Double, he must draw two dominoes from the draw pile trying to find
one. If after that attempt you don't find a Double, you must say pass and the player who has the turn
is the one who starts the match. There are some occasions where no Double is played though, in
those cases, you cannot play from that side, making that side blocked. Once the move of playing the
Doubles is done, you can continue playing by any side (except from the blocked ones).
If by any means the turn is blocked, the player who has more points loses, and each player
from that group must write down the corresponding points of the división to their own.
In this type of game the player who hasn't been able to go out of the match yet loses. The
match is decided by crosses, two or three crosses and each cross is worth 50 or a 100 points. The
score is written down if all the points that sum all the dominoes that haven't been played, including
the ones that are facedown and taking into consideration that the Double Blank is worth fourteen
points. The player who reaches the stipulated points first loses the cross, and the player who writes
down all the established crosses first loses the match, and thus, loses the bet.
The start is done by the player who has the Double-Six, as a noticible difference from the
previous modality where the start is done by the Double Blank. It is obligatory to start with a Double.
If the Double-Six is not introduced into the game, the player who has the Double that comes after the
Double-Six (which is the Double Five) starts. The following starts will be done by the player who won
the previous match.
In the opposing case, the start is done by the player who is in the left; and this player at the
same time receives something from the player who loses, an stipulated quantity for that concept. In
the case that the last player doesn't have a Double either, the start will be done by the player on the
left, who receives at the same time something from the the first and the second player; and so on
until the start is done by a Double. Each player must play by their side and this is also different from
the previous one, linking the dominoes behind each other naturally.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
11.- Tighted Up
It's development is similar to the Venezuelan Cross, but it is different in some aspects. It is
most common to play with company, although you can play it individually. Each player must draw
seven dominoes after shuffling them, the start is done by the player who has the highest Double if it is
played from 2 to 3 players. If it is played to 4 people, the start is done by the player who has he
Double-Six. The following starts are done by turns. As a difference to the previous style of game, when
a player is blowed he cannot play in neither side, leaving him tighted up to his side.
If it is played to 4 people, the start is done by the player who has he Double-Six.
Relatively easy type of game, where randomness comes into play throughout the entire match.
Special for kids because the have the opportunity to play with known numbers, finding a way to spare
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
time while having fun. The adults can also enjoy this type of game though, as it is able to be played by
more than to 4 people. In this case, the dominoes are delivered proporcionaly to the number of
players.
The remaining dominoes are left facedown in one side to be used by a player who needs them.
With four players after shuffling the dominoes, each player takes seven dominoes that they
must stand in an horizontal row on edge before them without looking at the domino faces the other
players have. The start is done by drawing lots and the rest are done by turns, or the previous winner
starts again. The domino that starts must be the first in the right side of the line of dominoes that the
player who starts has, whichever that is. And following an other from right to left, the player must turn
his second domino that must be played if it matches with the starting domino, and so on. In a
opposite case, the player must say pass and this last domino must be put upwards in the left side of
the row.
The domino that starts must be the first in the right side of the line of dominoes that the player who starts has,
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
The player which turn is to play will play in the same way as the player who started the match,
who will play his domino if it matches with the domino laid out. In the contrary, he will say pass and
his domino will be left upwards in the left side of the row. As you can see in the following pictures:
The player must put the domino upwards in the left side of the row.
As you can understand, a player in his turn is able to play all these dominoes at once if he has
the luck that the dominoes are turned and they can be played at the same time. The player who plays
his last domino is the one who wins. In case of a blow, the winner will be the player who has less
points.
I consider this modality the most interesting of all and the most likable to the fans, as a result it
is going to be the one that I will to explain the clearest. Even though this modality is a little
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
complicated, you don't need to have an exceptional intelligence to discover all it's secrets. It is enough
a little bit of retentive thinking, in the majority of the occasions of simple logic to be able to decipher
moves that appear obscure and difficult.
One match between 4 people and by couples, it's played like this: with the dominoes shuffled,
each player draws seven of them. When the player draws his corresponding dominoes, he must ask
himself the next question, Is this a solid hand, a regular hand or a terrible hand? In my point of view, a
good hand is one that doesn't have flaws nor Doubles, a regular hand is one that has a flaw or a
Double (or both) and that is touchy to become a good hand as the game progresses and a terrible
hand is one which has two or more flaws, three or more Doubles (or both). This hand is probable to be
terrible until the end, however it's possible that a player that is able to better that hand will end up
winning the game, because in the game of Domino you can win with a terrible hand and even, in many
occasions, playing patheticly.
In either of the three cases the hands must be well managed, in part because you will always
have combinations between them, the two solid hand, the three regular hand, one good and one bad,
etc. For that reason in the game of Domino you can do moves safely, with a team and not by just
whim.
The solid hands are difficult to lose and must be played individually. If you have a regular hand,
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
you must play by you're own in the case that it has turned into a solid hand while the game
progresses. And if you are in the misfortune of having a bad hand, you must play in a way to help your
partner and not pulling back effective moves by putting a Double because of the fear that your
opponents may match it. Improving a terrible hand, in the majority of the cases is simple, with the
appropiate match of one domino (commonly called “the key domino”), and based on this move, the
following moves will follow almost inmediately.
In the game of domino you can't be individualistic. Only in those cases where you have total
certainty that you will win, is where you can play individually, and that happens very commonly when
you have a good hand.
It could happen that your partner has “the key domino” in his possesion, and by doing a fearful
move, will avoid putting that domino at the right time and thus, losing an opportunity of a solid move.
The matches of domino can be settled with just one move and not at the end like many people think.
In this modality you can play up to a 100 points, except from the championship matches where they
can play up to 150 and 200 points.
The winner in the game of Domino is the player who reaches a hundred points, not the player
who dominates the rounds the most. This principle can be the rule: “By any means you must make
sure to reach a hundred points before your opponent”. The game of Domino is decided by the points,
making it necessary to think very well what move you're about to do to obtain at least one more
point. In fact, if you can find a way that your opponent loses one point, you must do it.
The individualism must be avoided because the match is done 2 vs 2, and whoever is the
winner, the score will be done in the column that corresponds to the winning couple.
Players should make the most out of the blocks because those are the moves that allow them
to obtain points faster. Therefore, you must know how to block it up, later on I will teach how to
calculate the right moment to block it up so you don't lose the opportunity nor the match.
In Domino you shouldn't talk nor do signals. Thinking before every move it's really important.
The player most be aware of every signal that you can identify from your opponent before any
move.
A great player doesn't need signals to play Domino. It's just a matter of developing a solid
overall view of the game itself.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
The Start. Matches are decided right from the beginning, thus you must know how to
start.
The start in a Domino match belongs to the Double-Six. The following starts will be done by
turns and those are the ones that I will talk about. The matches of Domino can be won or lost in either
round. The rounds in Domino are decided by the first moves: the start is one of the most important
moves in the game and for that is cannot be restricted by any established rule, it doesn't give and
contributions but to describe the average player.
This play follows, in the majority of the cases, a personal view that the player has about it. For
that reason my suggestion is to focus into how do I start correctly instead of how should I not start.
The experience I have gained by playing this game has taught me what gives us better results.
1.- Hand where you only have one Double. Start with the Double, without any falter.
Being aware of having just one Double can disable me to feel comfortable at the end. Thus, I
don't waste the opportunity to change my regular hand to a solid hand right from the start. When you
are in a situation where you only have one Double in your hand, there's a really high probability that
in the other six mixed dominoes could be five or four dominoes alike with a same spot. On the
contrary, you can find two suits of three dominoes in a same spot. Which is something that happens
really often, even a suit of three dominoes alike combinated with suits of two dominoes of the other
spots could happen. Thus, I suggest you to start with the Double so you're not worried about the
capability of those six dominoes remaining.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Hand where we have only one Double. Start with the Double without exceptions.
However, if the Double is small (Double Blank, Double-One or Double-Two)
And the otherdominoes are big, it is more convenient to do a “Doublet Matcher Start ”
2.- Hand where you have some Doubles. Start with the highest Double available.
The start obeys the personal view of the player. In my own point of view, you should start with
one of the Doubles and as a consecuence, I would rather start with the highest Double available
because that is best result I've had in previous experiences playing the game.
To this day I haven't found good enough reason to try to keep the highest quantity of points in
my hand in a move that could probably be a terrible one when you lose the opportunity of ruling out a
hand that threatens your possibilities to win, by ruling it out I can take advantage of the opportunity
and change my hand from a regular one to a solid one.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Hand where you have two Doubles. Start with the highest Double.
3.- Hand where you have one Double that goes with another. Start with a Double
This start doesn't need any explanation whatsoever because we're talking about a classical
start.
4.- Hand where you have a lot of Doubles that go with another. Start with the
highest Double available.
This the most convenient, because is a start that doesn't confuse your partner. Starting with a
Double that has the biggest company is taking an unnecesarry risk by technically deceiving your
partner. For instance, if I play a Double Four accompanied by a Four, and at the same time a Double-
Two accompanied by three Two's, the right decision is to start by the Double-Four and not by the
Double-Two, because if I start by that one is more likely that I will end up with a blocked Double-Four.
Hand where you have a few accompanied Doubles. Start with the highest Double.
5.- Hand where there are a variety of Doubles available: some by their own and
some that go with others. Start by the Double that goes with another or by the highest Double
if it there are a good variety of accompanied Doubles.
Hand where you have a few Doubles, one or a few alone and the others accompanied.
Start with the accompanied Double, or by the highest Double, if you have quite a few accompanied Doubles.
6.- Hand with a suit of five dominoes with Doubles: if they are White's, one's or
two's. Start by a mixed domino of the straight row.
This start is reasonable only if in the other two dominoes you don't have a Double, in that case
you should start by that Double if it's the only one or start with the highest Double if both dominoes
are Doubles.
Suit of five dominoes with a Double: Blanks, One´s or Two´s. Start with a the higgest domino in the suit that has
support by the other side of the suit when you don´t have another Double similar to the
Other dominoes in the suit.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Suit of five dominoes of small spots, accompanied or not by a Double, but accompanied by a high domino. Start
with the higgest domino and when it has support by the other two sides of the suit.
7.- Hand with a suit of five dominoes with Doubles: if they are three's, four's or
six's. Start by the double from the suit.
This start is reasonable only if the other two dominoes you don't have another Double, where I
would rather start with that like in the previous explanation.
In this case, starting by the Double from the suit will allow me to look for two easy but
essential things: first of all, I'm looking to finish the round as quick as possible to be able to pick (if I
win) the most points as I can. Second of all, if I'm playing with experienced opponents, I'm looking to
not get my three dominoes trapped with the right Double from the suit.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Suit of five dominoes with a Double: Three´s, Four´s, Five´s and Six´s.
Start with the Double of the suit when you don´t hold another Double.
8.- Hand with a suit of five dominoes without a double. Start with a mixed domino
from the suit.
It's a start that obeys a logical thinking and that is capable of helping us turn a regular hand to
a solid hand.
Suit of five dominoes without a Double, but accompanied by one Double alone in the suit. Start with the
Double.
9.- Hand with a suit of five dominoes with Doubles and flaws. Start with the
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
This start doesn't have exceptions because it's not suggested to start with a mixed domino with
this type of hand As in a hand you must take risks, I suggest you to start with the Double right from
the beginning so that way if you lose, it's not counted accompanied by other two dominoes.
Suit of five dominoes with a Double and with flaws. Start with the Double of the suit, without
exceptions unless you have another Double.
10.- Hand with a suit of six dominoes with a Double. Start with the domino that is
not included in the suit.
This start allows us to keep the six dominoes from the suit. In this situation start with a tactital
measurement because you might have to do the first move in the table and you can end up with the
turn. When you do the first move it goes in favor of the suit and if in that moment, the other domino
that completes the seventh domino from the suit other player had is laid out, with total certainty the
round is over as all of the dominoes are played immediately.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Suit of six dominoes with a Double. Start with the domino different from any domino in the suit, without
exceptions.
11.- Hand with a suit with six dominoes without a Double. Start with a domino
from the suit.
This start is reasonable only if the other domino not included in the suit is not a Double, in that
case I would rather start with that one.
Even though it's a suit of six dominoes, the combination isn't the same. This action is different
from the previous explanation where the quickness of the base depends in starting to play with first
domino of the straight row from the beginning.
Suit of six dominoes without a Double. Start with a mixed domino of the suit that has support by other mixed
domino in the suit.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
This start is very reasonable because if you play two dominoes from the beginning you are left
with five, while the rest of the players have to play with seven dominoes each and that is a significant
advantage. At the same time I can show my strategy to my partner, who will try at all cost to allow me
to develop my game by favoring my moves.
To this point we have analized the majority of the possible hands that can be drawed with
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
seven dominoes. Now I'm going explain in details the starts where there are no Doubles available and
where the start must be made with a mixed domino. In this specific cases, I consider imperative to
have some established rules that will allow us to chase a purpose: Trying to hang a Double.
By starting with a mixed domino, you immediately indicate to your partner that you don't have
any Double so he can discern it and execute a successful match. Your partner is forced to complete
and contribute to the play you're trying to make. For instance, if you start with a three-six, it's because
you might not have a Double-Six, nor a Double three in your hand. If the player which turn is to play
doesn't play any Double and his partner doesn't have it either, we can assure that the player that
follows the turn of your partner has one Double. So by starting with the domino mentioned previously
the player that follows you may match one end of the domino or play a Double, and if that happens
your partner must match the other side if he doesn't have the corresponding double.
To disturb your opponent with a double that will be in his way until the end it's more than
enough to win a round of domino because that won't allow him to turn his regular hand to a solid one.
Thus, your partner must by the any means try to help you to develop your play. As a result, if by
starting your opponent says pass and your partner has one of the two doubles, you should match the
end that doesn't correspond to your partner's double because that won't allow your opponent that
follows to play a double either. By doing this sacrifice, yout partner will indicate you to you that he has
the other double. Thus, achieving a succesful execution.
In figure I show a following example:
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Entry with Doublet Matcher Start. Start with the Double-Three, where the player that follows in the turn
matches the thrre with the Three-Five and in this conditions our partner must match the six with the Six Blank,
keeping the Six-Two when is making company to the two. The purpose of the move is to match the Double-Six,
already known to be in the hands of your opponents. Our partner must play the Six Blank with the purpose to
tell us that he has another six.
First Domino.
The first domino you start is important because it will indicate to your partner a possible hand
that you have. In this and the following moves you must remember the previous explanations about
the solid, regular and terible hands. And also understand that with this play you indicate yout hand (by
that I mean attacking hands: hands where the majority of your dominoes are four or more dominoes
with the same spots). From that moment the way you play that domino will have a huge impact in the
match because you're indicating that you have an attacking domino or that you have a double that
you're looking to match as quick as possible, to reach the turn of hands. You should never pay
attention to a game that's started quickly because you would be going against the malice and
technique this game holds
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Moves started in the first domino are far more important than in the second turn, For example:
if your partner starts the round with a four-three to match a four and then on the next turn he plays a
four-five to match the four again, you should be able to understand that he prefers to play with a
three than with a five because if he had wanted to play with a five he would have started with the
four-five. But as he started with a four-three, if you don't have a Double five you must go against that
Double five because it's certain that your opponent has it in his hand.
Second Domino.
The second domino is much more important than the first one and the start. This move for the
starter is equivalent to the first domino.
This is a hand that is used to repeat the move announced in the start or in the first domino
from the player and from their it's importance. It is used to repeat the first play from your partner
when it's convenient for the fundamental reason that he started the game in a thoughtful way. Or it is
also used to start a play or a double that bothers you.
In the case that none of this is possible, you must use it to avoid that the opposing player
develops his game. This move in the majority of the time decides the round. This move allows you to
spot some dominoes.
For example: if you don't play your second domino with a purpose, you can tell that your
partner doesn't have none of those dominoes. Of course, this way of thinking is also capable of being
used in your opponent's moves. With a bit of retentive we get used to reach for a purpose. We
shouldn't forget the previous explained moves, because if so it would be difficult to spot the exact
location of the dominoes.
I consider that you should reach to give this second domino a specific purpose: to develop your
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
partner's game with it. I recommend to practice it constantly, at least with exercises. In the following
figures we can appreciate the value and the influence that this move has to develop your partner's
game.
Start with the Double-Four, the player which turn is to play starts with the Double-Five, our partner matches
the five with the Five Blank, starting his move using Blanks and the next player matches his Blanks with the Six
Blank, that way starting with a Double-Six and at the same time avoiding the following player which turn is to
play to match his Four´s, knowing that he has the key domino which is Six-Four.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
The starter matches the start with a Four Blank. This domino ends upbeing the “key domino” and it´s the right
move.
REVIEW OF THE MOVE: Let´s study the four dominoes that the starter has at his disposal: six-
three, six-five, four-two and four Blank.
Matching the six is not wise for two reasons: Firstly, because you know that your opponent has
the Double-Five and he has to keep the six-five accompanied with the other six, not wanting to get it
blocked. Secondly, because you don´t know where is the Double-Six, it could be that your partner has
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
it. As a result, the starter must match his start leaving the six alone. To match his start you have 2 Four
´s: the four-two and the four Blank. With the first one you don´t chase any true purpose, while with
the second one you chase two purposes: repeating the Blank started by your partner and at the same
time start with the Double Blank that bothers you. In such a way that the domino you should play is
the four Blank, and once you do the move the hand develops by it´s own, with a result of a blocked 64
x 36.
Third Domino.
This domino has a similar worth as the others, it's purpose is the same as the second domino.
As a result, it allows us to discover some dominoes in their respective location.
We must make the most out of this moment to think in the same way that we did in the
opportunity to play the second domino, a type of thinking that will increase the exact knowledge more
or less of where the determinate dominoes are located. To this point the round is already halfway
there and we must have a solid concept of what we need for the end.
Fourth Domino.
To this point we must have to our reach the solution of the round. This domino has the same
purpose than the second and the third, and as in this we must think in the same way as the previous
ones, this allows us to discover the dominoes still in play, that with it's possible location, it would
much more easier knowing that there are just a few dominoes to discover. We shouldn´t forget that
the repeated first domino of our partner is one the most effective moves that is available in this
modality of the game. If a player develops the dominoes of his partner, the partner is also in the
obligation to develop his. When the moves from your partner are developed the probability to win the
round increases and if I have an individualistic aproach to the game it decreases.
This dominoes work like the previous one and after playing them it only the last domino will
remain, and that is the Seventh Domino. And with this we end the round.
To resume and conclude, I would suggest you the following: to start a big move to your
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
convenience (it could be either with a Double or with majority) you must always think in the next
move even if you still have one to turn play. A big move is one that consists in Three's, Four's, Five's or
Six's, where we give preference from higgest to lowest. In the same way, when we have two hands to
develop, we must give preference to the biggest hand because it will be the hand where we will add a
bigger quantity of spots. One of the most effective moves is to develop the game started by our
partner. Finally, we must never copy the game of our opponents. We would rather punish our own
game.
Now, let's discover how to block a round in Domino without having the risk to lose it.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
THE BLOCK
Next, this modality of the game allows us to think in a sort of mathematical way.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Supongamos que tenemos una situación en que las puntas sean del contrario, pero que
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
indiquen juegos diferentes; y que nos corresponda jugar teniendo con nosotros la ficha del cuadro.
Por ejemplo: Las puntas indican cinco por un lado y tres por el otro, debemos jugar y tenemos el
cinco-tres. En este caso, recomiendo cuadrar a favor de la pinta donde haya salido el doble. Si han
salido los dos dobles, aconsejo hacer el coadro a favor de la menor, lo mismo que si no hubiera salido
ningún doble. Cuando los dos dobles están en juego se puede presentar la excepción siguiente: hay
que tomar en consideración las reventadas del contrario que puedan facilitar la entrada de nuestro
juego. Naturalmente que si las reventadas son iguales, el cuadro ha de hacerse a favor de la pinta
menor.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
MATCHED DOMINOES
The matched move has a lot effectiveness most of the times, whereas in another occasions the
result might be the least expected. That´s the main reason why the player who wants to do a matched
move; must deeply study the consequences that this move can have. All of the matches must have a
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
When you do an ordinary match, you are looking for the following: That the corresponding
Double is put, that a domino laid out is repeated, that you look for a neccesary domino to continue
with your game, that the match dominoes allow you to continue with your game, that the match
you do is to match another Double or just that the match allow you to block the game of your
opponent.
As a result, when you do a match, you must take into consideration the pros and cons of all of
those things before doing the move. A lot of the times it is convinient to match in favor of your
opponents; as it is not convinient to match in your favor.
In the first esceneario, it allows you to take advantage of the entry of our game with the
matches of your opponent; and in the second escenario, it is nor convinient to match in your favor
because with your matches you can facilitate the entries of your opponents.
In such a way that I suggest you to get used studying the consequences that the matches could
have at the end, that could end up as a block. In other words, the last match is the closure of the
round.
As you can understand, you can only do three matches in favor of a same domino, for instance:
Match N°1, Match N°2 and Match N°3. This last one is the closure match: it is the block match. To
conclude, you must remember that the Doublet Matcher moves must not be done with more tan to
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
REVIEW OF THE MOVE: En este caso nos toca jugar y solamente tenemos la ficha del cuatro.
Las puntas indican por un lado juego a unos, que es nuestro y por el otro lado, juego a doses, que es
de los contrarios y nosotros tenemos para jugar solamente el uno-dos.
Si cuadramos a favor de los unos, ganaremos la mano siempre que nuestro compañero juegue
el uno-tres, y en tal caso contaremos 15 puntos; en caso contrario, si juega el uno-blanco, perderemos
la mano por cuanto nos serán ahorcados el doble-seis y el doble-blanco. Ahora bien, si cuadramos a
favor de los doses, juego del contrario, nuestro compañero aprovechara las reventadas del contrario
para trancar la mano por lo unos, pudiendo entonces anotarnos la cantidad de 33 puntos.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
LOCALIZACION DE CARTAS
Los jugadores de domino siempre consideran el hecho de producir un paso al adversario como
una ventaja apreciable, al pensar que con ello retrasan efectivamente la jugada del jugador que da el
paso.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Indudamente que muchas veces esta jugada proporciona muy buenos resultados, y en tales
casos debe ser practicada; pero en otras oportunidades los resultados son completamente
contradictorios y entonces vale la pena abstenerse de producirlos.
El paso en el juego de Domino significa mucho mas de todo esto, y como se podrá ver no
siempre es conveniente provocarlo, dependiendo su importancia sobre todo del desarrollo mismo de
la mano. En consecuencia, podemos decir que en algunos casos es preferible dar paso que jugar
determinada carta, ocasión que permite exclamar a muchos jugadores: paso y gano. Página 172
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
GLOSARY
Ace
The end of a domino with one dot.
Back
The "back" of a domino is the side opposite the numbers. The back is oten free of any adornment, but may also
contain a design, logo, or other pattern. All dominoes must have identical backs, so that players cannot tell what
dominoes they are drawing.
Bar
The "bar" is the line seperating the two ends of a domino. Also called the "center" or "divider".
Blank
A "blank" is an end of a domino that contains no dots. If both ends are blank, then it's called a "double blank" or a
"blank doublet". A blank is also sometimes called a "zero", "white", or "pale".
Block
A "block" or "blocked game" is a game in which no player is able to make a move, either to place a domino on the
table or to draw a domino from the boneyard. This typically signals the end of a game. Also called a "jam".
Bone
Domino pieces are sometimes called "bones", because they were originally made of animal bones or ivory. Today
they are commonly made of plastic, ceramic, or wood. In addition to bones, dominoes are also sometimes
referred to as "stones", "tiles", "men", or simply a "domino".
Boneyard
At the beginning of a game, when all the dominoes have been turned face-down and shuffled, the collection of
ramdomized tiles if referred to as the "boneyard". Players draw tiles from the boneyard to form their hands. The
remaining tiles are also called the boneyard. Also known as the "reserve".
Deuce
The end of a domino with two dots.
Domino
A bone or tile used in a game of dominoes is commonly called a "domino". To "domino" also means to play the
last tile in your hand, which typically ends a game or hand.
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Dominoes
The word "dominoes" can refer to both the game of dominoes, and the domino tiles that are used to play the
game.
Dominos
A common misspelling of "dominoes".
Dot
Each domino contains some number of "dots", usually from 0 to 6, but up to 18 in some sets. A dot is also called a
"pip" or a "spot".
Double
A domino with both ends having the same value. For example, two sixes is called "double-six", and two ones is
called "double-one". Also referred to as a "doublet".
Doublet
A domino with both ends having the same value. For example, two sixes is called "doublet six" or "six doublet".
Also referred to as a "double".
Draw
When you transfer a domino from the boneyard into your hand, this is called a "draw".
End
A domino has two ends with a center dividing line. Each end has a number. A domino is referred to by its
numbers, so a domino with a 2 on one end and a 5 on the other is called a "2-5" (or a "5-2"). A domino with both
ends having the same value is called a "double" or "doublet".
Hand
A "hand" is the set of dominoes that belong to each player. Contrary to the name, the dominoe are usually not
held in the hands, but are placed edge-wise on the table in front of the player, so that the player can see their
values, but his opponent(s) cannot. When playing a game that consists of multiple rounds, a "hand" also refers to
each individual round in the game.
Layout
The dominoes that have been played. Also called the "table", "tableau", or "board".
Open End
An "open end" is an end that is not connected to any other tile. Subsequent dominoes may only be played on an
open end.
Pip
Each domino contains some number of "pips", usually from 0 to 6, but u to 18 in some sets. A pip is also called a
"dot" or a "spot".
Set
"To set" is to place a tile on the table. It is also used to specifically denote the first tile played. In bidding games, if
a player does not make his bid, he has been "set".
THE ART OF PLAYING DOMINO
Shuffle
At the beginning of a game, all the dominoes are turned face-down and "shuffled" in order to randomize the tiles
so that no player knows where to find any particular domino.
Spinner
The first double that is played during a game is called the "spinner". In many games, dominoes can be played off
all four edges of the spinner - both ends and both sides.
Spot
Each domino contains some number of "spots", usually from 0 to 6, but u to 18 in some sets. A spot is also called
a "dot" or a "pip".
Suit
A "suit" is the collection of tiles all having the same number of dots on at least one end. Each suit has seven tiles.
For example, the "sixes" suit consists of 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, and 6-6.
Tile
Another name for a domino or a "bone".
Trey
The end of a domino with three dots.