Dominó (dominoes): how to play step by step

The version of dominoes most commonly played in Spain is played in pairs with 28 tiles, with each player receiving 7. On each turn, you play a tile whose number matches one of the open ends of the chain. Whoever runs out of tiles wins the hand for their pair, who score the points left on their opponents’ tiles.

The tiles

Each tile has two halves marked with dots from 0 (blank) to 6. There are 28 combinations, from the double blank to the double six. Doubles, such as 5-5, are called dobles (doubles) or chanchos (doubles), depending on the region.

Dealing and opening play

Place the tiles face down, shuffle them and have each player take 7. In the first hand, the player with the double six usually starts; in later hands, the opening turn passes to the next player in the agreed direction.

How to play

• Play a tile with a number that matches one of the two open ends of the chain.
• If you cannot play, pass.
• Doubles are placed crossways, but count in the same way.

How the hand ends

The hand ends when someone runs out of tiles (domina, meaning they go out) or when nobody can play a tile (cierre or tranque, meaning a blocked game). If the game is blocked, the pair with the lowest total number of points on their remaining tiles wins. The winning pair scores the points left on their opponents’ tiles. Games are usually played to 100 points, though each group has its own custom.

If you are curious about its origins, take a look at our history of dominoes. And if you prefer cards, Chinchón (Chinchon) shares dominoes’ fondness for counting what you have left in your hand.