The game starts with a double in the middle of the table, acting as a spinner from which the players' 'private trains' branch off. It is typically played by at least four players using at least a double-twelve set. This member of the trains family of games, similar to the basic version of trains but with an additional 'Mexican train', is played mainly in the United States. Once the central spinner and the four adjacent tiles have been played, the next four tiles to be played must be doubles, which are turned crosswise to form the likeness of a Maltese cross, but do not act as spinners. As in Cyprus, a player who cannot play must draw one tile and may play it if possible. Each player draws 5 tiles (7 tiles in the case of two players). Like Sebastopol, it uses a double-six set. Maltese Cross is a variant of Sebastopol for 2–4 players. The pip count of the remaining stock (at least two tiles) is added to the losing player's remaining pip count to form the score of the game. The main difference from the block game is that players who cannot play must draw tiles until they find one which can be played or the stock consists of exactly two tiles. The players alternately extend it with one matching tile at one of its two ends. The first player places a tile on the table which starts the line of play.

Initially each player draws seven tiles from a double-six set. Draw Game ĭraw or 'the Draw Game' is one of the two basic forms of the game of dominoes, the other being 'the Block Game,' and 'most characteristic domino games are elaborations of it.' It gives its name to the family of 'draw games'. The game proceeds like the Draw game, except that a player who cannot play need not draw more than once. The layout starts with a double, and the next eight tiles played must be attached to it, so that the layout is a star with eight open ends. Most, in some variants all, tiles are drawn by the players. It is best described as a variant of the Draw game. Every subsequent double becomes another spinner that must be played a further three ways in the shape of a chicken foot before any other open ends of the tableau may be played.Ĭyprus is a variant of Sebastopol, but played by 4–10 players with a double-nine set. Chickenfoot Ĭhickenfoot is a modern game related to the Cyprus family which begins with a spinner which is played four or six ways. There are also variants for four players. The winner of a blocked game is the player with the lower pip count, who scores the difference of the pip counts. A winner who has dominoed, scores the total remaining pip count of the loser's hand.

The game ends when one player dominoes by playing their last tile, thus winning the hand, or when the game is blocked because neither player can play. The first player sets a tile on the table which starts the line of play. It requires a double-six set, from which each player must draw seven tiles the remainder is not used. Layout games Blocking games Block Game īlock or 'the Block Game' for two players is the simplest basic domino variant and gives its name to the whole family of 'block games'. Likewise there are also domino-like card games, e.g., Sevens and the once very popular Pope Joan. These can be either blocking games, in which the object is to empty one's hand scoring games, in which the players can score during the game by creating certain configurations or trick and trump games which draw inspiration from card games. games in which the players add matching tiles from their hand to a layout or tableau in the middle of the table. The most typical domino games are layout games, i.e.

The following is a partial list of games played with domino tiles or similar equipment.

Chicken foot dominos game