How many dominoes do you start with?

In the standard Draw game with a double-six set, each player takes 7 tiles whether there are 2, 3, or 4 players. The remaining tiles become the boneyard you draw from. Pagat.com's version gives 6 tiles each when 4 people play, and Block and All Fives often use 5 tiles each with 3 or 4 players.

Who goes first in dominoes?

In the Draw game, players usually draw a tile each and the highest total leads, then reshuffle before dealing hands. The leader may start with any tile. Many families instead have whoever holds the 6-6 (or the highest double) set it down first. After the first hand, the lead passes to the left.

How do you score dominoes?

The player who goes out scores the total pips on all the tiles left in the opponents' hands, one point per pip. If the game blocks, the player with the lowest pip count wins the hand and scores the other players' pips. The first player to reach 100 points wins the game.

What happens when no one can play in dominoes?

When the boneyard is empty and no player can match an open end, the game is blocked. Everyone counts the pips in their hand. The lowest total wins the hand and scores the opponents' pips. If two players tie for the lowest count, pagat.com's rule is that nobody scores that hand.

Do you have to draw if you can play in dominoes?

In the basic Draw game you draw only when you can't play, and you keep drawing until you get a tile that fits. Pagat.com notes that some players allow drawing even when you could play, which lets you hold back a tile. Agree on this before starting.

What is a spinner in dominoes?

A spinner is a double that can be played on from all four sides, so the line branches in four directions. The basic Draw game has no spinners; doubles sit crosswise but only the two ends stay open. In All Fives (Muggins), the first double played is the spinner.

What is the difference between Block and Draw dominoes?

In Block dominoes there is no drawing. If you can't play, you pass. In the Draw game you must take tiles from the boneyard until you can play. Draw hands last longer and are less likely to block, while Block puts more weight on which tiles you were dealt.

How many points do you play to in dominoes?

The usual target is 100 points. Pagat.com's Draw rules use 100 for two players or partnerships and 61 for three or four players. All Fives (Muggins) is usually played to 200. Some groups pick 50 or 150 for a shorter or longer evening.

How to Play Dominoes: Draw Game Rules and Scoring

1Object of the game

Get rid of all your dominoes before anyone else, or hold the fewest pips when nobody can play. Each hand's winner scores the pips still held by the other players, and those points add up across hands. The first player to reach 100 points wins the game.

2Setup

Turn all 28 tiles of a double-six set face down on the table and shuffle them around with your hands. This mixed pile is the boneyard.
Each player draws 7 tiles for a 2-, 3-, or 4-player game. Stand your tiles on edge so only you can see the faces.
To pick the first player, each person turns up one extra tile from the boneyard; the highest total of pips goes first. Return those tiles and shuffle again before you draw your hands.
The first player sets down any tile from their hand to start the line of play. Play then moves to the left (clockwise). In later hands, the lead passes one seat to the left each time.

3The play

Look at the two open ends of the line. You may play one tile from your hand if one of its halves matches the number on an open end. Place it end to end so the matching halves touch.
Doubles (tiles with the same number on both halves, such as 4-4) are placed crosswise across the line. In the basic Draw game they are not spinners, so the line still has only two open ends.
If you have no tile that matches, draw from the boneyard one tile at a time until you draw one you can play, then play it. Keep all the unplayable tiles you drew.
If the boneyard is empty and you can't play, say "pass" and the turn moves to the next player.
If you play your last tile, call "Domino!" and the hand ends right away.

4End of a hand

A hand ends in one of two ways. Either a player plays their final tile (goes out, or "dominoes"), or the game is blocked: the boneyard is empty and no one can make a legal play. Tally the score, reshuffle all 28 tiles face down, deal new hands of 7, and pass the lead to the left.

5Scoring

Only the winner of each hand scores. Count every pip (dot) on the tiles your opponents still hold; a blank half counts as 0. Keep a running total for each player on paper.

For	Points
Going out (dominoes)	Total pips left in all opponents' hands
Blocked game, lowest pip total	Total pips left in all opponents' hands
Blocked game, tie for lowest	No one scores that hand
Each pip on a tile	1 point
Blank half	0
Game target	100 points

This is the scoring used by dominorules.com. Pagat.com's version of Draw has the blocked-hand winner subtract their own pips from the opponents' total, and plays to 61 points with 3 or 4 players instead of 100. A double-six set holds 168 pips in all, so a single hand can swing a lot of points.

6Winning

The first player to reach 100 or more total points wins. If you'd rather play one quick hand, the player who goes out (or has the lowest count in a blocked game) is simply the winner of that hand. Because only one player scores per hand, two players can't cross 100 at the same moment, so there is no need for a tiebreak.

7A worked hand

Three players, Ana, Ben, and Cal, are near the end of a hand. The open ends of the line show 3 and 5. Ana holds 5-2 and plays it on the 5 end, so the ends are now 3 and 2. Ben has 6-6 and 4-1, neither of which matches a 3 or a 2. He draws from the boneyard: first 6-0 (no match, he keeps it), then 2-4, which matches the 2. He plays 2-4, and the ends are 3 and 4. Cal plays his last tile, 4-3, on the 4 end and calls "Domino!" Now count what's left. Ana still holds 1-1 and 5-0, which is 2 + 5 = 7 pips. Ben holds 6-6, 4-1, and 6-0, which is 12 + 5 + 6 = 23 pips. Cal scores 7 + 23 = 30 points for the hand. If the hand had blocked instead, with Ana at 7, Ben at 23, and Cal at 9, Ana would have the lowest count and score 23 + 9 = 32 under the common rule, or 32 - 7 = 25 under pagat's subtract-your-own rule.

8House rules

The rules above are the version most US players use. These are the variations you are most likely to run into; settle them before the first deal.

Block Dominoes: Play with no drawing at all. Each player takes 7 tiles (dominorules.com) or 5 tiles with 3 or 4 players (pagat.com), and if you can't play you simply pass. The hand ends when someone goes out or everyone is stuck, and it is scored like the Draw game.
All Fives (Muggins): The first double played is a spinner, so play can branch off all four sides. After each play, add up the pips on all open ends; if the total is a multiple of 5, you score that many points (ends totaling 15 score 15). You must announce your points or an opponent can call "Muggins!" and take them. Deal 7 tiles for 2 players or 5 each for 3 or 4, and play to 200 per dominorules.com.
Subtract your own pips: Pagat.com's Draw rules credit the hand winner with the losers' pips minus the winner's own pips. It mainly matters in blocked games, where the winner still holds tiles.
Leave two in the boneyard: In pagat.com's version, the last two tiles are never drawn. When only two remain, a player who can't play just passes.
Highest double leads: Many families have the player holding the 6-6 set it to start the first hand, or the highest double if nobody has 6-6. Pagat.com lists this as a common way to begin.
Shorter game or smaller hands: Pagat.com plays to 61 points with 3 or 4 players and deals 6 tiles each with 4 players. Dominorules.com mentions targets of 50, 150, or 200 as well.

9Mistakes people make

In the Draw game you must draw when you can't play, and you keep drawing until you get a playable tile. Passing is only allowed once the boneyard is empty.
Doubles in basic Draw are not spinners. They sit crosswise, but only the two ends of the line stay open.
Only the hand winner scores, and they score the opponents' pips, not their own.
A blocked hand is won by the lowest pip total, not by the player with the fewest tiles.

10Playing better

Get rid of heavy tiles early. Holding 6-6 or 6-5 when someone else goes out costs you 12 or 11 points, so play big tiles when you have a choice.
Keep variety in your hand. Try to hold tiles with several different numbers so you can match more ends and avoid drawing.
Watch what your opponents draw on. If a player draws when the ends show 2 and 5, they have no 2s or 5s, so leaving those numbers open can force them back to the boneyard.
Count the tiles. Each number appears on exactly 7 tiles in a double-six set. If six 4s are already on the table, the last 4 is the only one left, and you can often figure out who holds it.
Play doubles when you can. A double only matches one number, so it is the hardest tile to get rid of late in the hand.

Dominoes: questions people ask

How many dominoes do you start with?: In the standard Draw game with a double-six set, each player takes 7 tiles whether there are 2, 3, or 4 players. The remaining tiles become the boneyard you draw from. Pagat.com's version gives 6 tiles each when 4 people play, and Block and All Fives often use 5 tiles each with 3 or 4 players.
Who goes first in dominoes?: In the Draw game, players usually draw a tile each and the highest total leads, then reshuffle before dealing hands. The leader may start with any tile. Many families instead have whoever holds the 6-6 (or the highest double) set it down first. After the first hand, the lead passes to the left.
How do you score dominoes?: The player who goes out scores the total pips on all the tiles left in the opponents' hands, one point per pip. If the game blocks, the player with the lowest pip count wins the hand and scores the other players' pips. The first player to reach 100 points wins the game.
What happens when no one can play in dominoes?: When the boneyard is empty and no player can match an open end, the game is blocked. Everyone counts the pips in their hand. The lowest total wins the hand and scores the opponents' pips. If two players tie for the lowest count, pagat.com's rule is that nobody scores that hand.
Do you have to draw if you can play in dominoes?: In the basic Draw game you draw only when you can't play, and you keep drawing until you get a tile that fits. Pagat.com notes that some players allow drawing even when you could play, which lets you hold back a tile. Agree on this before starting.
What is a spinner in dominoes?: A spinner is a double that can be played on from all four sides, so the line branches in four directions. The basic Draw game has no spinners; doubles sit crosswise but only the two ends stay open. In All Fives (Muggins), the first double played is the spinner.
What is the difference between Block and Draw dominoes?: In Block dominoes there is no drawing. If you can't play, you pass. In the Draw game you must take tiles from the boneyard until you can play. Draw hands last longer and are less likely to block, while Block puts more weight on which tiles you were dealt.
How many points do you play to in dominoes?: The usual target is 100 points. Pagat.com's Draw rules use 100 for two players or partnerships and 61 for three or four players. All Fives (Muggins) is usually played to 200. Some groups pick 50 or 150 for a shorter or longer evening.

Sources

Checked by Morgan Hale against the sources below. Last reviewed September 28, 2026.

Draw Dominoes, dominorules.com. Read September 28, 2026.
The Draw Game, pagat.com. Read September 28, 2026.
The Block Game, pagat.com. Read September 28, 2026.
Block Dominoes, dominorules.com. Read September 28, 2026.
Muggins (All Fives), dominorules.com. Read September 28, 2026.

Also on the table: Mexican Train, Cribbage, Backgammon, Rummy.