What are the rules of Block Dominoes?

In Block Dominoes, the objective is to be the first player to empty your hand by placing matching tiles on the board. Here are the standard rules:

---

Basic Rules of Block Dominoes

1. Players & Setup

• 28 tiles, double six set
• Starting the Game:
  • All tiles are placed face-down and shuffled.
  • Each player draws 7 dominoes
    • The remaining tiles form the boneyard, which is unused in Block Dominoes.

2. Determining the First Play

• The player with the highest double (e.g., 6-6) plays first.
• If no one has a double, the player with the highest tile (e.g., 6-5) starts.

3. Gameplay Rules

• Players take turns placing a tile that matches the open ends of the domino chain.
  • Example: If the board has [5-3][3-1], open ends are 5 and 1.
  • A player can place a 5-X or 1-X tile.
• Doubles are placed crosswise (forming a "T") and count as a single end.
  • Example: Placing [4-4] on a 4-2 means the next tile must match 4, not both ends.
• If a player cannot play, they pass (unlike Draw Dominoes, no tiles are drawn from the boneyard).

4. Winning the Game

• The first player to play all their tiles wins the round.
• If no one can play (all players are blocked), the game ends in a block.
  • The winner is the player with the fewest pips (dots) left.
  • In partnerships, teammates' pips are added together.

5. Scoring

• Count the pips on remaining tiles and award them to the winner.
• Play multiple rounds until a player reaches a set score (e.g., 100 points).

---

Key Differences from Draw Dominoes

• No boneyard: Players must pass if they can’t play.
• Blocking is key: Strategy involves forcing opponents to pass.