Also Known As:

• Double Header

Players

two to ten

Boneyard

For two or three players a double six set is used. For four to six players a double nine set is used. For seven to ten players, a double twelve set is used.

The Deal

Each player receives seven dominoes at the beginning of a round. Excess dominoes form the boneyard for the round.

The Play

The player holding the highest double sets it. From this first domino only the east and west sides are open. Each player in turn must play a domino on one of the open ends by matching a number on the domino to a number on the open end. If a player is unable to play, he must draw a domino from the boneyard until a playable domino is drawn. If the boneyard is empty he must pass. A round ends when a player goes domino or when all players have passed in succession.

For scoring purposes, doubles are displayed crosswise while they are on the open end of an arm.

Scoring

A player scores points by playing a domino to make the numbers at the open ends the same. If one of the dominoes at the end of the arms is a double, the scoring play is a triple header worth three points; otherwise the scoring play is a double header worth two points.

A player who goes domino scores one point, in addition to points that may have been scored for making ends match.

If a round ends because all players are blocked, the point goes to the player with the lowest count in hand of all the players not holding a double. If all players hold a double, then the point goes simply to the player holding the lowest count in hand. If two or more players are tied for the lowest count in hand, then no one earns the point.

The game ends immediately when one player reaches 15 points, regardless of whether the current round of play has ended.