Dominoes: Rules and How to Play
Dominoes is a tile classic for 2. Match open ends, empty your hand first and collect the pips your opponent is left with. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Setup
- 2 players. On your own, play against the computer.
- A double-six set of 28 tiles is used, seven dealt to each player. The remaining 14 form the boneyard.
- Who opens the first round is drawn at random. After that the lead alternates: whoever did not open the previous round opens the next one, whatever the score was.
How to play
- The opening tile must be a double if the opener holds one - any double will do. With no double in hand, any tile may be played. From then on, you may only play a tile that shares a value with the left or right open end.
- Tapping a tile selects it and shows the ends it fits. Tap that end again or press Place tile to confirm. When a tile fits both ends, you choose which one.
- Orientation is matched for you. Doubles are drawn across the chain, but they connect exactly like any other tile.
- You may draw from the boneyard at any time, as many tiles as you like, even when you have a playable tile. When you cannot play, draw one tile at a time until you can. The boneyard may be drawn down to its last tile.
- If the boneyard is empty and you still cannot play, you pass.
Winning and scoring
- The first player to run out of tiles scores the total pips left in the opponent's hand.
- If neither player can play and the boneyard is empty, the round is blocked: the player with fewer pips scores the difference. Level totals score nothing.
- The first player to reach the target wins. The target is 100 (the default), 50, or a single round. A player may also resign.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target score | The first player to reach it wins; a single round is settled at once. The times in brackets are rough estimates for two players. | First to 100 (about 20-30 min) | Can be changed |
| Opening tileOpening tileA double is a tile with the same number on both halves (for example 3–3). With “Double first”, the opener must lead with a double if they hold one; after that, play is the same. With “Any tile”, the opener may lead with whatever tile suits their hand. | The default, Double first, makes the opener lead with a double if they hold one - any double will do. With no double, any tile may be played. | Double first | Can be changed |
| Drawing when you can play | The default, May draw, lets you take tiles from the boneyard even when you have a playable tile, as many as you like. Cannot draw means you must play while you can. | May draw | Can be changed |
| Swap first player on rematch | Play again switches who opens the first round. | On | Can be changed |
Terms
- Tile
- A piece showing two values. A double-six set has 28 of them.
- Double
- A tile with the same value on both halves. There are seven, drawn across the chain, and the opener must play one if they hold one.
- Open end
- Either end of the chain. Only a matching tile can be added there.
- Boneyard
- The 14 tiles left after the deal. Drawn from only when you cannot play.
- Blocked
- Neither player can play and the boneyard is empty; fewer pips scores the difference.
FAQ
Can I draw while I still have a playable tile?
Yes. By default you may take as many tiles as you like from the boneyard. A house rule can forbid it.
What if my tile fits both ends?
You choose the end yourself; it is never decided for you.
What if a blocked round is level?
Nobody scores that round. The lead alternates every round anyway, whatever the score.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-09-21 · Run by Qdan, Inc.