Easy to learn, fast and simple to play but beware, there is a fair amount of skill in dominoes! Here’s a set of tips to help you to master the game, beat your opponents and make cash here, online!

Throw your pips early
A good defence to your opponent making big scores against you consists of playing the high pipcount tiles early 5-6 for example. You don’t want to be left with such ‘heavy’ tiles at the end of the game.

Doubles out early
The 6-6 and 5-5 are similar high pipcount tiles which, if not played at the outset, need to be played as soon as possible. But even lower pipcount doubles are worth playing early before other tiles because doubles are more difficult to play than other tiles: you only have one number to match up against what’s on the board, not two. Equally, if you know there are only two tiles left such as the 3-3 and the 1-3 and you have the 1-3 in your hand, you can effectively ‘kill’ the double 3 by playing the 1-3 (assuming it’s in your opponent’s hand!).

Keep both ends open
When choosing between one end or another, try to play a tile which keeps both ends open. This means that whatever your opponent plays, you will not be blocked on your next go.

Maintain a balanced board
Always try to keep a balanced board, i.e. one consisting of a wide variety of tiles which keeps your option open. If you have no 4’s or 5’s in your hand, you are known to have two ‘misses’. Keep your misses to a minimum.

Note your opponent’s weaknesses
When your opponent is forced to draw from the boneyard, you know that they have no tiles matching either of the open ends. If you remember this, you should then be playing tiles to try to keep those same numbers at the end. Also, if your opponent has played at the same end of the board consecutively, he may be short on numbers corresponding to the other open end.

Work out a good end game
Towards the end of a game when the boneyard is empty or nearly empty, you should be able to work out some of the tiles that your opponent has left in their hand. To count tiles of any given number, count each half a tile with that number on the board and in your hand. There are 7 dice faces for each including the doubles. For example, if counting sixes, there are seven sixes to find: 6-6, 5-6, 4-6, 3-6, 2-6, 1-6, 0-6.

Try to set a suit
If you have many tiles of the same value, try to set that suit up as often as possible on one or both ends to force your opponent to draw.

Do your numbers
There are in total 168 pips in a double six dominoes set. So what I hear you say?! A few calculations from this for you:

• the average domino is 6 points and the the average starting hand is around 42 points: know whether the tiles in your hand are higher or lower than the average
• If you count the pips on the board and subtract that figure from 168, you know what the total points left are in all hands plus the boneyard. Subtract your own hand from that and you have an idea of the best points score you could make (and v.v for your opponent)

Subdue your opponent with the firm
The ‘firm’ is the term for the last domino of a particular number. So, for example if all the 3-s have gone with the exception of the 3-2 in your hand and one of the open ends is a 3, hold onto it and force your opponent to play the other end.

Play to win the match, not the round
There are times when you will need to be more defensive or aggressive. If, for example, you are 48 to 5 points up in a 50 point match, you do not need to win by much so don’t go for broke and limit your exposure.

Keep Track
As in any domino game, players who keep track of the outstanding tiles have a strong advantage. It is also important to take note of numbers on which an opponent was unable to play.

Strategy ALL 5's

Chip out
As chipping out results in a score based upon your opponents remaining count, to the nearest 5 this can be very useful in gaining a lead in the game.

Use Blanks
Blanks can be very effective at adding extra scores, for example when only two ends are in play and the other end is a 5, laying a domino that results in a blank at the end will often score points. It will also make it harder for your opponent to make a high scoring round on their next turn.

Expand the spinner for Higher Points
Creating extra ends by adding to the central Spinner increases the possibilities to score and to increase the maximum scores that can be achieved

5's & 3's Strategy

15 is key
In 5’s & 3’s, 15 is the highest scoring play totalling 8 points. As this can only be made utilising the double 5 or the double 6 this makes them both powerful pieces when playing them and dangerous when left on the board for your opposition to use.

If you can’t score – make it low
If you cannot score any points on your go, it is best to try and make the score as low as possible for your opponent’s turn. This will reduce the risk of your opponent making a high score on their next go.

The Power of Blanks
Blanks can be very effective at adding extra scores, for example if a double six starts the game, this scores 4 points. If a 0 – 6 is laid on the next turn, another 4 points can be scored by the second player.

Lots of tiles is an advantage
Unlike Domino Draw, collecting a lot of dominoes from the bone yard is often an advantage as it allows you more scoring opportunities on future turns. Your opponent can only score 1 point if they chip out on you too. If your opponent receives a lot of dominoes from the boneyard chipping out early can reduce your opponent’s advantage, denying them the chance to block you out of the game.