Dominoes is the classic draw game played with a double-six set of 28 tiles. Each tile shows two numbers of pips, and you build one long line by matching numbers end to end. The first player to lay down every tile in hand wins the round. This version, called Domino in Christopher Müller’s open-source PaperGames collection, supports two to four players. Fill the other seats with computer opponents, or pass one device around the table.
How to Play Dominoes
With two players, everyone gets seven tiles. With three or four, everyone gets five. The rest stay face down as the stock. The highest double opens the line, and play goes around in turn.
On your turn, choose a tile whose number matches one of the two open ends, shown in the large boxes above the line. The touching halves must show the same number, so a 4-2 can go on an open 4, leaving a 2 at that end.
If none of your tiles fits, you must draw from the stock until one does. Once the stock is empty and you still cannot play, you pass. The round ends when someone plays their last tile, or when the line is blocked because every player has passed. Then the lowest pip total in hand wins. Only one round is played, with no running score.
The Triangles variant swaps in three-sided tiles laid on a grid, where every shared corner must match.
Dominoes Controls
| Action | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Play a tile | Click a tile in your hand, then the open end it should go on | Tap a tile in your hand, then the open end |
| Draw from the stock | Click "Draw from stock" when nothing fits | Tap "Draw from stock" when nothing fits |
| Pass your turn | Click "Pass" once the stock is empty | Tap "Pass" once the stock is empty |
| Show your hand in a shared-device game | Click "Show my tiles" | Tap "Show my tiles" |
| Set up a new round | Choose mode, players, variant and level, then click "New game" | Choose mode, players, variant and level, then tap "New game" |
Tips and Strategies
- Shed doubles early. A double matches only one number, so it is the tile most likely to get stuck in your hand.
- Dump heavy tiles first. If the line gets blocked, the lowest pip total wins, so a 6-5 left in hand hurts far more than a 1-0.
- Keep your numbers varied. Holding tiles with many different numbers gives you more ways to match whatever ends appear.
- Watch what others draw on. If an opponent had to draw against an open 3, they likely have no 3s, so leaving 3s on the ends can block them.
- Count the tiles of a number. Each number appears on seven tiles. Once you have seen most of them, you know an end showing that number is close to dead.
Features
- Classic double-six play and a Triangles variant with 56 three-number tiles
- Two to four players, with Easy, Medium or Hard computer opponents
- A same-device mode that hides each hand until its owner taps to see it
- Optional move suggestions in Settings that mark which tiles fit and where
- The round in progress is saved in your browser and returns after a reload
Tested and updated:
