About Dominoes
Dominoes is a coffeehouse classic in Egypt: tiles clacking on a wooden table, everyone hiding their hand, waiting to see who goes out first. Here you play with a full double-six set of 28 tiles against Uncle Hassan, Hajj Mahmoud and Sayed, one of them, two, or all three at once.
Everyone gets 7 tiles. On your turn you put a tile on either end of the line, as long as its number matches that end, and doubles go crosswise. If nothing fits you draw from the pile until something does, and once the pile is empty you pass and play moves on. With four players every tile is dealt, so there's no pile at all.
The first to play their last tile wins the round and scores all the pips left in everyone else's hands. If the game blocks and nobody can play, the lightest hand scores instead. A match goes to 101 points, so every round counts, and every heavy tile you get rid of early saves you points.
How to play
- Choose how many opponents: one, two or three.
- The first round is led by whoever holds the highest double, which they play first. After that, the last round's winner leads.
- On your turn tap a glowing tile in your hand to play it on the end it fits.
- If nothing fits tap Draw until you get a tile that does; with an empty pile your turn passes.
- Empty your hand first to score the others' pips. The first to 101 wins the match.
Controls
| Keyboard | The arrow keys walk through your tiles and Enter or Space plays one. If it fits both ends, pick the end with Left or Right, then Enter. D or Space draws from the pile. |
|---|---|
| Mouse | Click a glowing tile in your hand and it goes straight down. If it fits both ends, two green markers appear on the table: click the one you want. |
| Touch | Tap a glowing tile in your hand. If it fits both ends, tap the green marker at the end you want, and if nothing fits tap Draw. |
Tips to win
- Play heavy tiles like 6-6 and 6-5 early, so they don't count against you if someone else goes out.
- Keep a mix of numbers in your hand so you can follow whatever end opens up.
- Watch which numbers are already on the table: when a number is nearly used up, that end can lock out your opponents.
- If an opponent drew on a number, they don't have it, so try to leave that number open on an end.
Dominoes: questions and answers
How is dominoes scored here?
Whoever goes out scores the total pips in everyone else's hands. If the game blocks and nobody can play, the lowest hand scores the others' totals, and if two players tie for lowest nobody scores.
What happens when I can't play?
You draw from the pile until you get a tile that fits. If the pile is empty, you pass and the next player goes. The game passes for you automatically when that's your only option.
Can I play four-player dominoes?
Yes, choose Three and you play against three computer players. Then all 28 tiles are dealt, 7 each, and there's no drawing.
Does the game work on phones?
Yes, tap a tile with your finger to play it. The game is light and runs in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer with nothing to download.