The Basics – Domino Draw
Draw Dominoes is a classic two-player game where players take it in turns to lay tiles (or ‘bones’ as they’re sometimes called) onto a board with the objective being to set down your own tiles before your opponent does.

In this game of dominoes there are 28 unique tiles which have two ends that correspond to dice rolls. So you have all the possible two dice rolls such as a 3-5 and a double 6 (6-6) plus a further six using blanks, such as a 0-4 or a 0-0. At the beginning of the game, players are dealt seven of each and the remainder are left on the table face down in what is known as the ‘boneyard’.

The player who has the highest double (from 6-6, 5-5 downwards) plays that piece first. This is done automatically at the beginning of the game for you. In the rare event that neither player has a double initially, the random number generator will reshuffle and redeal (without you even realising it!) and play the first tile. Play then passes to the second player who can lay a tile, provided it has one end which matches the double played. So if your opponent had the highest double, a 6-6, you can play any tile which has a six in it from your hand (e.g. 5-6, 3-6). Note that on this first go it is irrelevant which side you play it (more on that in the strategy section!). If the second player plays a 5-6, for example, there are now two open ends: one with a five and the other with a six. The first player can now play a tile with a six or with a five. See example below where the player can play either the 3-6 or the 1-5. Tiles which are legitimate are highlighted in our game.

There are always only two open ends in this game. Note that doubles are automatically played cross-wise on the board which is common practice in the game although makes no difference to the open ends.

If at any stage, you cannot play your tile, you are automatically dealt one or more tiles from the boneyard (see small bone image on the left above) until you receive one which can be played onto one of the two open ends. You then play this tile immediately. If you cannot play and there are no tiles in the boneyard, then play passes to your opponent. Play continues this way until either a) one of you has played their last tile (they then will have ‘dominoed’ their opponent) or b) neither opponent can play a tile and the boneyard is empty (both players are ‘blocked’).

Scoring
At the end of a round, the players pips left in their hands are added up and the difference credited to the player with the least points. For example, player A plays his last tile and player B is left with two tiles in his hand: the 4-4 and the 0-3. Player A would score 11 points. In another example there are no more bones in the boneyard and Player A has 5-6, 4-6 and player B has 2-4, 0-2 and 2-2 (the open ends let’s say were 3 and 1). Player B would score 9 points (21 less 12). Games of dominoes can be quick or slow depending on the points scored by each player and the target point scores. Typical games are played to 50 points and so often a number of ‘rounds’ of dominoes are played. The person who reaches the target score first wins the cash in the pot!

All Fives Game Instructions

All Fives, a dominoes variant originating from America is considered by many to be the best dominoes game. It plays similarly to Draw Dominoes, except that the goal of the game is not just to ‘chip out’ (or lay down or your tiles before your opponent), but also to make the open ends of the tiles or ‘bones’ add up to 5 (or a multiple of five).
28 unique tiles are used and seven are dealt to each player whilst the remainder are left on the table face down in what is known as the ‘boneyard’.
The player who has the highest double (from 6-6, 5-5 downwards) plays first. Once the first tile is placed play then passes to the second player who can lay a tile, provided it has one end which matches the double played. So if your opponent had the highest double, a 6-6, you can play any tile which has a six in it from your hand (e.g. 5-6, 3-6). Note that on this first go it is irrelevant which side you play it (more on that in the strategy section!). If the second player plays a 5-6, for example, there are now two open ends: one with a five and the other with a six. The first player can now play a tile with a six or with a five.
Once both sides of the spinner have been played on horizontally, the spinner can then also be played on in the vertical direction, i.e dominos can be places on all four sides. This only applies to the first domino spinner, subsequent doubles played do not act as spinners. Dominoes on all open ends count towards the score total.
If at any stage, you cannot play your tile, you are automatically dealt a tile from the boneyard (see small bone image on the left above) until you are able to make a legal play. If there are no more ‘bones’ in the ‘boneyard ‘and you cannot make a legal play, then play passes to your opponent. Play continues this way until either neither opponent can play a tile or one player has used all their tiles in their hand. This “chipping out” signals the end of the round.

All Fives Scoring

After a player has laid a tile, the arms of the layout are totalled. If this total is a multiple of five (5, 10, 15, 20, and so forth), the player immediately scores that number of points. If the end tile is a double, both sides count towards the total. For example the 5-5 is worth ten points, on the end of an arm.
Below is a typical score of 10.

If the central spinner domino has been played left and right then extra vertical dominos can be added all of which count towards the total.
The current total is show at all times on the left hand side.
Point scoring hands are highlighted in green and the Current count expands to show what has been scored and how.
If a player uses all their dominoes in their hand and “chips out” they are awarded points (to the nearest 5), for every point left in their opponents hand. This ends the round and the dominoes are re-dealt for the next round. This continues until the first person scores the target score or more.

5s' & 3's
In this classic British pub variant of dominoes the game starts and progresses the same as Draw Dominoes with no spinners. The aim of the game is to score exactly the desired target score. Players score a point for each multiple of 3 as well as 5 that the open ends add up to. Players also score 1 point for ‘chipping out’ or laying down all their tiles.

After a player has added a tile to the layout, the two open ends are totalled. If the end tile is a double, both sides of the double count towards the total. When the total is a multiple of five, three or both, the player immediately scores the number of fives and/or threes in the total.

The possible scoring totals are:

Tile Ends Total	Points Scored
3	1 point (one three)
5	1 point (one five)
6	2 points (two threes)
9	3 points (three threes)
10	2 points (two fives)
12	4 points (four threes)
15	8 points (three fives & five threes)
18	6 points (six threes)
20	4 points (four fives)

The current tile score total is displayed in the score tab located on the left had side of the screen.

A player gets an additional point for chipping out. If both players are blocked then neither get any points for ending the round.

The game ends when the first player reaches the exact number of points required. If a player scores more points than the total required (overshoots) play passes to your opponent with those points not scoring.