|
Domino Games
Muggins
(or, All Fives or Five Up)
Points are earned when a player plays a bone with the result that
the count (the sum of all open ends) is a multiple of five. The
points earned are equal to the sum of the ends. Therefore, if in
the course of play a player plays a bone that makes the sum of the
ends 5, 10, 15 or 20, the player scores that number. All pips on
a crosswise doublet are included in the count.
Each player
takes five bones (four players) or seven bones (two players). If
the leader plays the 6-4, 5-5, 5-0, 4-1, or 3-2, the count is evenly
divisible by five and so the player scores. If, later, the ends
before play are 2 and 4, the next player can play the 4-4 crosswise
and score 10. Each player must play if holding a matching bone.
A player who cannot match must draw until obtaining a playable bone.
Scores are called and taken immediately.
The player who
goes out wins additional points based on the pips still in other
players' hands. Each opponent's hand is rounded to the nearest multiple
of five and the result is given the winner. For example, the winner
scores 25 for 27 pips in an opponent's hand and 30 for 28 points.
If all players are blocked, the lightest hand win, still earning
points based on the pips in opponents' hands.
All Threes
All Threes is played in the same manner as Muggins, except that
points are earned for multiples of three.
Fives and
Threes
Fives and Threes is similar to Muggins and All Threes, but points
are scored for multiples of five and multiples of three at the open
ends. Multiples of five and multiples of three are worth one point
each. These can be scored in combination, however. If Player A plays
the 6-5 and Player B the 6-1, then Player B scores 2 points because
5 and 1 sum to six (two threes). Player A then plays the 1-5 and
earns 2 points because 5 and 5 sum to 10 (two fives). If Player
B then plays the 5-5 crosswise, Player B scores 8 points, 5 for
five threes and 3 for three fives.
Fives and Threes
can be played with or without a sniff (see Playing a domino piece).
Games are often played to 31, 61, or 121 points using a cribbage
board to score.
Matador
Matador, meaning "killer" (of the bull in a bull fight)
in Spanish, is a common draw game with the usual object of going
out first and collecting points based on the bones still in ones
opponents hands. The rules governing play of a bone, however, are
different.
New bones are
not played matching end to matching end. Instead, bones are played
so that the sum of the open end and the new end touching it sum
to seven. If one of the open ends is a 3, for example, any bone
with a 4 can be placed abutted with the 3. If a 4-2 is played, the
4 is placed against the 3 and the 2 becomes the new open end. As
Matador is played with bones no higher than six, a blank means the
blocking of that end because there is no tile that can sum with
zero to seven. No further play can take place at that end excepting
by playing a matador, which may be played at any time.
There are four
matadors, the 6-1, 5-2, 4-3 and 0-0--that is, all the tiles whose
two ends sum to 7 and the 0-0. It is often better to draw one or
more fresh bones than to play one's last matador, as it may save
the game at a critical juncture. In playing, a double counts as
a single number only, but in scoring the full number of pips is
counted. When the game has been definitely blocked the player with
the lightest hand scores the number of the combined hands (sometimes
only the excess in his opponent's hand), the game being usually
100. Matador can be played by three people, in which case the two
having the lowest scores usually combine against the threatening
winner; and also by four, either each player against all others
or two on a side.
A player who
cannot make a seven on either end must draw from the boneyard until
securing a playable bone (although two bones must remain in the
boneyard). If the boneyard is exhausted, the player must knock.
A player may also draw a bone even when holding a playable bone.
Other games
There are also a variety of other games played with dominoes. Some
are simple memory games like Concentration (based on the card game
of same name), some are complex, and some are simple solitaire games.
Concentration
Concentration is generally played by two players. The bones are
placed face down on the table, shuffled by one, both, or all players
and then arranged in a simple rectangular grid. For double-six dominoes,
for example, the 28 bones would be placed in four rows of seven
bones each.
The goal of
play is to collect pairs of bones. The player who collects the most
pairs wins the game. With double-six dominoes, pairs consist of
any two bones whose pips sum to 12. For example, the 3-5 and the
0-4 form a pair. In some variations, doubles can only form pairs
with other doubles so that the 2-2, for example, can only be paired
with the 4-4.
Players, in
turn, try to collect pairs by turning over and exposing the faces
of two bones from the grid. If the four faces of the two bones sum
to 12, the player takes the two bones, scores a point (in some rules
a point for each bone taken), and plays again. If the tally is any
other number, the bones are turned face down again and the player's
turn is over.
The first player
to accumulate 50 (or 100) points wins the series.
Chickie Dominos
Chickie dominos is a low score wins game. Chickie Dominos is played
in rounds, one round for each double domino in the set.
Setup: For double
6 dominos, there are seven rounds. The score keeper writes 0 through
6 on the top of the score sheet and creates a score column for each
player. All dominos are face down in the center. Each player picks
5 dominos at random to make their hand.
The First Round:
Opening PlayThe player with the double 6 lays it plays it in the
center of the play field. If no player has the double 6 then the
player with the next highest double plays it. The player to the
left of the player who lead the double 6 plays any domino in thier
hand with a 6 on it on one of the four sides of the double 6 with
the played domino's 6 against a free side of the double 6. The next
player plays another 6 on a remaining side until all four sides
are filled. If a player cannot play because they do not have a 6,
then the player draws one domino from the bone yard and either plays
it because it has a 6 or calls "Pass". No other plays
can be made until all four sides of the double are filled. Once
all four sides are filled, the player to the left of the last person
to fill the 6 may play any domino in their hand that matches an
exposed end of a played domino. If a player is unable to match any
exposed dominos, they must draw one domino from the bone pile and
either play it if possible or call "Pass". If no dominos
remain to draw from, the player simply calls "Pass".
Chickie:
Chickie FoursAny time a player plays a double of any number on the
exposed domino with the same number as the double, the player calls
"Chickie (Number)". For example, if a player played a
double 5 on the end of a the 6/5 domino they would lay it long side
against the end with the 5 and call "Chickie Fives". No
other dominos can be played until three more 5's are played against
the double 5. The three dominos played against the double 5 are
played on the long side opposite the side originally played. The
end result will look like a chicken foot with the double 5 having
one domino laid perpendicular to one side, and three more dominos
on the opposite side, the middle being perpendicular and the other
two at 45 degrees to perpendicular. Any player who does not have
a 5 must draw a domino from the bone pile and either play it if
it has a 5 or call "Pass". Once all three 5's are played,
the next player may play any domino in their hand on any exposed
end that matches. Play continues until a player is out of dominos
or no player can make a legal play.
Ending a Round:
A round is over when either one player plays the last domino in
their hand or no players can make a legal play. This situation can
occur if someone chickie's a number that no longer has three remaining
free dominos to play on it.
At the end of a round, each player adds the spots on the dominos
in their hand and adds this to their score. The score keeper crosses
out the double that lead the round and the next round begins with
the highest double left. When all 7 rounds are played, the player
with the lowest score wins.
Strategy: Since
the object of the game is to have the lowest score, it is in your
best interest to get rid of your high value dominos and at the same
time, prevent your opponents from playing thiers. To this end, one
strategy is to try to keep high value exposed ends covered which
prevents opponents from chickie-ing them. Another strategy is to
horde low value dominos and try to use up a particular number which
you have the double for. Once you know that there are no longer
three free dominos to complete the chickie, you control when the
round ends by playing the chickie. This is especially good when
you also have that number as your last domino. It also pays to keep
the double blank since it adds no value to your score. Like poker,
watching for looks of desperation on your opponents faces can clue
you in to who has the big doubles.
More Dominos:
With bigger domino sets, it is possible to have more players. Double
9s is good for 4 to 6 players and each player would start with 7
dominos in their hand. Double 12s is good for up to 10 players,
each with 7 dominos. If you have fewer players and more dominos,
start with more dominos in each players hand, but leave enough dominos
in the bone pile to draw from. When using double 12s, make sure
you have plenty of playing room as it can spread out considerably.
Double 6s =
7 rounds, double 9s = 10 rounds, double 12s = 13 rounds.
|
