Draw Dominoes

This is one of the simplest and most common domino game, taking its name from the rule that allows players to draw new tiles from the boneyard. As a result, it is played in a dozen different ways by everyone. This is one set of rules, but some more common variations are given in the comments section. Any of the Block game variations can be made into a Draw game by allowing the use of the tiles left in the boneyard.

Equipment

The game uses a double six domino set, but other sets can also be used when you have more players.

The Deal

The size of the hand varies with the number of players:

• 2 players get 7 tiles each
• 3 players get 7 tiles each
• 4 players get 6 tiles each

The rest of the tiles stay in the boneyard.

The Play

The four handed game can be played in partnerships or as individuals. The players draw for lead (or set) and take turns placing tiles on either end of the train. Doubles are played across the line, but are not spinners.

If a player cannot play, he draws tiles from the boneyard until he can play or until the boneyard is empty. If the boneyard is empty or the player cannot play, he then passes his turn.

The hand stops when one player dominoes or when nobody can play. The lead then passes to the next player in turn.

Scoring

At the end of the hand, each player gets the total number of pips in his hands. The lowest scoring player is the winner and is credited with the sum of the scores of the losers, minus his own total. If there is a tie for lowest score, then nobody gets a score.

The game is played for 100 points in a two player or partnership game, and for 61 points in a three or four handed game. This convention allows a cribbage board to be used for keeping scores.

Strategy

The best play is to set your strongest suit, preferably with a double, so that you will have more options for further plays when it is your turn again. The better control you have of a suit, the more you should try to leave that suit on the ends of the train.

In a partnership game, you can assume that your partner's lead is his strongest suit and play to it.

Regional variations

Dutch: A player draws one or two tiles from the boneyard, and passes his turn if this does not give him a playable tile. The last two tiles of the boneyard are not drawn and remain unused. The [0-0] counts as 13 points.

Mexican: The game for four players in two partnerships. Each one takes seven tiles pieces, and your partner is the one who is in front of you. The first tile set is always the [6-6], and the play continues clockwise until one player dominoes. The remaining points of both the opponenets hands added to the winning team, until some team reach 100 points.

Other Variations

1. Different numbers of tiles in the hands.
   1. South Americans will sometimes use the formula (8 - the number of players) = the number of tiles in the hands.
   2. Vietnamese start each player with a hand of one tile. The game must start with the [6-6], so players continue to draw until someone can set it on the table.
2. Determining the lead, either initially or after a blocked hand is done by:
   1. Players can draw for the highest tile.
   2. The last player who led, leads again.
   3. The lead rotates clockwise aroudn the table.
   4. All players draw a tile and exposed them at the same time. The pips are totaled and the total is divide by the number of players, then one is added to the quotient. The players are numbered from 1 to (n) and the player whose number matches the quotient leads.
      In a two handed game, the players can just call out "odd" or "even" as guess to what kind of number the total with be when they expose their tiles.
   5. Ukrainians and other central Asians lead with the highest double.
3. The first tile played can be:
   1. The lead is the player's choice. This is common in France.
   2. The title is required to be the [6-6]. This is common in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries
4. The tiles in the boneyard are used until:
   1. The boneyard is emptied
   2. The last two tiles must remain in the boneyard. It is a good idea to stack these two dead tiles on top of each other after the deal.
   3. Players pay for each tile drawn from the boneyard in points or chips.
   4. A player continues to draw tiles in his turn until he can play or the boneyard is empty.
   5. A player draws one tile in his turn if he cannot play; if the drawn tile can play then he does so. If not, his turn is over and his hand is bigger.