Dominoes is played with a set of 28 tiles, with 2, 3 or 4 players. Each tile has 2 numbers, from 0 to 6. The winner is whoever runs out of tiles first or, if no one can move anymore, whoever has the fewest points in hand. In the guide below we explain the classic rules, counting the points, and the variants played most often in Moldova.
The domino set
The usual set has 28 tiles. Each tile is split into 2 halves, and on each half there’s a number from 0 to 6, marked with pips. The half with no pips is worth 0.
Each combination appears only once in the set, from 0-0 to 6-6. Tiles with the same number on both halves are called doubles. A set has 7 doubles: 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6.
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How the tiles are dealt
The tiles are turned face down and shuffled on the table. Then each player draws their tiles:
- With 2 players: 7 tiles each.
- With 3 or 4 players: 5 tiles each.
The tiles that remain are set aside, still face down. They form the reserve, which many players in Moldova call the “bazar”.
When 4 play without a reserve, all 28 tiles are dealt, 7 to each player.
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Who starts
Usually the player holding 6-6 starts. If no one has this tile, the one with 5-5 starts, then the one with 4-4, and so on.
Some groups draw lots to decide who starts. In that case, the first player can lay any tile. The rule is set before the first game.
How the tiles are laid
After the first tile, players take turns laying one tile at a time at one of the 2 ends of the line. The number on the new tile has to match the number at the end where you place it.
For example, if one end shows a 4, you can lay 4-1, 4-6 or any other tile that has a 4. Once you lay it, the new end becomes the other number on the tile.
Doubles are usually placed crosswise, so they’re easy to see. The end stays the same number.
If you have no matching tile, the rule depends on the variant:
- With a reserve: You draw tiles from the bazar until you find one you can lay. If the bazar runs out, you skip your turn.
- Without a reserve: You say “pass”, and the turn moves to the next player.
How the game ends
The game ends in one of these 2 situations:
- A player lays the last tile: They win the game.
- No one can lay anything anymore: Each player adds up the points on the tiles left in hand, and the one with the smallest total wins.
How points are counted
A tile is worth the sum of its 2 halves. For example, 5-3 has 8 points, and 6-6 has 12.
The winner of the game receives the points left in the other players’ hands. Several games are played in a row, until someone reaches the score set at the start. The most commonly used scores are 100 and 101.
When playing in teams, the points are added up for the whole team.
Variants played in Moldova
The basic rules stay the same, but each variant changes something in the way it’s played.
- Dominoes without a reserve: All the tiles are dealt or the reserve isn’t used. Whoever can’t lay a tile says “pass”. It’s the fastest variant and is often played with 2 or 4.
- Dominoes with a bazar: Players start with fewer tiles, and the rest stay in reserve. Whoever has no matching tile draws from the bazar. The games last longer and luck plays a bigger role.
- Capra (the Goat): It’s one of the best-known variants in Moldova, played mostly with 4, in teams of 2. Each player has 7 tiles. The team that first reaches 101 points loses, and its players become “goats”. The variant is also known by its Russian name “kozel”.
- Dominoes on multiples of 5: Here points are given during the game too. If, after your move, the sum of the 2 ends of the line is 5, 10, 15 or 20, you get that many points. The variant requires more calculation and is usually played by experienced players.
Dominoes for money
In many courtyards, parks or pubs, dominoes is played for money. As a rule, players agree on an amount for each game or a value for each point, and whoever loses pays at the end.
A few things to know before such a game:
- The rules are set from the start: The variant, the final score and the stake have to be clear to everyone before the first tile.
- There’s no protection: A private game for money isn’t regulated, so a disagreement is settled only between the players.
- Luck matters a lot: In the bazar variant, even a good player can lose several games in a row.
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Conclusion
Dominoes has few basic rules: you lay tiles with matching numbers at the ends of the line and try to be the first to run out of tiles. The differences come from one variant to another, from the game without a reserve and the one with a bazar to Capra or the game on multiples of 5. When playing for money, everything has to be agreed in advance, because no one guarantees the agreement will be honoured.
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Frequently asked questions
1. How many tiles are in a domino set?
The usual set has 28 tiles, with numbers from 0 to 6 on each half.
2. How many tiles does each player get?
With 2 players, 7 tiles each. With 3 or 4 players, 5 tiles each, and the rest stay in the bazar. If 4 play without a reserve, each gets 7.
3. Who starts the game?
Usually the player with 6-6. If no one has this tile, the one with 5-5 starts, then the one with 4-4.
4. What happens when no one can lay a tile anymore?
Each player adds up the points on the tiles left in hand. The one with the smallest total wins.
5. What is Capra in dominoes?
It’s a variant with 4 players, in teams of 2. The team that reaches 101 points first loses, and its players become “goats”.
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