How to play Dominoes
- The tiles: a double-six set has 28 tiles, one for every pair of numbers from 0 (blank) to 6. Each player takes 7 tiles and keeps them hidden. The other 14 stay face down in the boneyard.
- Starting: in the first hand, the player with the highest double (6–6, then 5–5 and so on) plays it to start the line. If nobody has a double, the highest tile starts. In later hands, the winner of the last hand starts with any tile.
- Matching: take turns adding one tile to either end of the line. The number on the tile must match the number at that end: a 4–2 can go next to a 4, with its 2 left showing.
- Drawing: if none of your tiles fit, draw from the boneyard, one tile at a time, until you get one that does. Then play it.
- Passing: if nothing fits and the boneyard is empty, pass your turn.
- Domino! The first player to play all their tiles wins the hand and scores the total pips (spots) left in their rival's hand.
- Blocked: if neither player can play, the hand ends. The player with fewer pips in hand wins and scores the difference. Equal pips score nothing.
- Winning: hands are played until someone reaches 100 points, or 50 or 150 if you choose.
Controls
- Play a tile: tap it. The tiles that fit stand up with a yellow glow. If a tile fits both ends, tap it, then tap the end where you want it.
- Draw: when nothing fits, tap Draw a tile or the boneyard. Keep drawing until something fits.
- Pass: when nothing fits and the boneyard is empty, press Pass.
- Keyboard: ← and → or Tab move between your tiles, and Enter plays the one in focus.
The line snakes across the table and shrinks to fit as it grows: tiles added on the right end turn down at the edge, tiles on the left end turn up. Doubles are laid crossways. With 2 Players, a cover screen hides the tiles whenever the device passes to the other player.
Computer levels
The computer never sees your tiles or the boneyard. It knows its own tiles, the line, how many tiles you hold and what you did in the open. When you draw or pass, it notes the numbers you couldn't match.
| Level | How it plays |
|---|---|
| Easy | Often plays any tile that fits. |
| Medium | Plays its heaviest tile that fits, to keep the pips in its hand low. |
| Hard | Also plays doubles early, keeps tiles that fit the new ends, and leaves numbers at the ends that you're unlikely to have, especially the ones you couldn't match when you drew. |
| Expert | Tries each play on 40 imagined deals of the tiles it hasn't seen, plays both hands out to the end, and picks the play that scores best on average. |
Tips to win
- Play heavy tiles early. If your rival goes out first, every pip in your hand counts for them. Get rid of 6–5s and 6–6s while you can.
- Play doubles early. A double only matches one number, so it's the hardest tile to place late in a hand.
- Keep variety. Tiles with many different numbers give you more ways to play when the ends change.
- Watch what your rival draws on. If they drew when a 3 and a 5 were showing, they have no 3s or 5s. Leave those numbers at the ends.
- Count the numbers. Each number appears on 7 tiles. If five 4s are already on the table, a 4 at the end is hard to match.
About Dominoes
Dominoes came to Europe from China in the 18th century, and today there are dozens of games played with the same tiles. This is the draw game, one of the most popular games for two: tiles are matched end to end, you draw when you're stuck, and the winner scores the pips left in the loser's hand.
Questions
How many tiles does each player get?
7 tiles each, from a double-six set of 28. The other 14 go in the boneyard to be drawn when needed.
How do you score in dominoes?
The player who goes out first scores the total of the pips left in their rival's hand. In a blocked game, the player with fewer pips scores the difference.
What is the boneyard?
The pile of face-down tiles left over after the deal. You draw from it when none of your tiles fit the line.
What happens if nobody can play?
The hand is blocked. Both players count the pips left in their hands, and the lower total wins the difference.
Who goes first in dominoes?
In the first hand, the player with the highest double, who plays it to start the line. After that, the winner of each hand starts the next one.
Can two people play dominoes on one phone?
Yes. Choose 2 Players: a cover screen hides your tiles while you pass the device, and the line stays in the open.
Is this dominoes game free?
Yes. It's free in your browser, with no download, no sign-up and no ads during a game.
Updated 8 November 2026