Board games
How to Play Dominoes: The Double-Six Draw Game
By ForgeFlow Labs · Published October 28, 2026 · 3 min read
Dominoes is among the easiest tile games to learn, and a little planning goes a long way. This guide explains draw dominoes with a standard double-six set and a handful of tips for playing it well.
The set
A double-six set has 28 tiles. Each tile is divided into two halves showing between zero and six pips. Every combination appears once, including the seven doubles, which have the same number on both halves.
Setting up and playing
Each player takes seven tiles. The rest form the boneyard, from which you draw when you cannot play. The first tile is placed to start the line. After that, each player in turn plays a tile from their hand that matches the number at either end of the line.
If you have no tile that matches, you draw from the boneyard until you get one that does, and then you play it.
Winning a round
The first player to play all their tiles wins the round. If the game blocks, meaning nobody can play and the boneyard is empty, the player with the lowest total of pips left in their hand wins.
Strategy
- Play doubles early. A double can only be placed on a matching end, so it is easy to get stuck with one in your hand.
- Keep a mix of numbers. A hand that all shares one number is easy to block.
- Count the tiles. When most of one number has been played, you know your opponent has few left of it.
- Think about the ends of the line. Leave an end that suits your hand, not theirs.
- If a block looks likely, play your heavy tiles first, because a blocked game is decided by the lightest hand.
A short sample game
You hold seven tiles and the line starts with a 6-4. One end shows 6 and the other shows 4. You play a 4-2 on the 4 end, so the ends now show 6 and 2. Your opponent plays a 6-6 double on the 6 end. The ends are now 6 and 2 again, but the 6 end is a double, which means the next player to use that end needs a tile with a 6.
Each turn you ask the same questions: which of my tiles fit either end, which one leaves the ends in a state that suits my hand, and which one is the hardest to place later.
Play against the computer
Our Dominoes game uses the double-six set on a felt table and has four computer skill levels, so you can learn the flow at your own pace.
Common questions
- How many tiles do I start with?
- Seven each in the two-player draw game, with the rest in the boneyard.
- What if the boneyard runs out and I still cannot play?
- You pass. If nobody can play, the game is blocked and the player with the fewest pips left wins.
- Why play doubles early?
- A double only fits one number, so it can get stuck in your hand for the rest of the game. Playing it early removes that risk.
- Can I see my opponent's tiles?
- No. The only information you have is the tiles on the table and the ones in your own hand, which is why counting the numbers that have been played is useful.