Common Draw Dominoes mistakes

This guide lists the common errors in two-player Draw Dominoes with a double-six set, as on our Draw Dominoes rules page. For strategy see the strategy guide and for pip counts the scoring guide.

Playing mistakes

• Matching totals instead of ends. Only the touching halves need the same number of pips.
• Matching a blank with a number. A blank only matches a blank.
• Playing on the side of a double. A double is placed crosswise, but the line has just two ends. There are no branches here.
• Thinking you may not draw while you can play. In this ruleset you may draw before playing, even when you hold a legal tile.
• Drawing only one tile. If you can’t play, draw until you find a playable tile or only two tiles remain.
• Drawing the last two tiles. They always stay in the boneyard.
• Putting back an unplayable draw. Every drawn tile stays in your hand.

Opening mistakes

• Giving the set to the wrong player. The player with the higher double sets first; if neither has a double, the player with the heavier tile does. The setter may then lead any tile.
• Drawing the wrong hand size. Each player draws 7 tiles.

Ending and scoring mistakes

• Calling a block too early. The boneyard must be down to two tiles and neither player able to play.
• Forgetting the blocked-hand formula. The lower pip total wins and scores the difference between the two totals.
• Scoring the winner’s own pips. When someone goes out, they score all pips left in the opponent’s hand.
• Counting only one half of a tile. Count both halves. A blank is zero.
• Awarding a tie. If a blocked hand leaves equal totals, the difference is zero and nobody scores.
• Stopping at 99. The match ends when a player reaches 100 or more after a completed hand.

Mixing games

• Playing Block Dominoes. In that game no one draws. It is a different variant.
• Using spinners. They are not part of this version.