Buzz
Master the art of Mexican Train, Double Sixes or Double Nines, and Fives
There are countless variations of dominoes to explore, and while many are meant for larger groups, there are plenty of games tailored for just two players. Whether you're gearing up for a competitive showdown or a more relaxed round, you've found the right place. We'll guide you through three popular domino games that are perfect for two players.
Essential Dominoes Rules for Two Players
- Start by shuffling the dominoes and deal 7 to each player. The player with the highest double domino places it on the table.
- Players take turns adding dominoes that match the last domino on the table. If you can't play, draw a new domino.
- The first player to lay down all their dominoes wins. Their score is determined by counting the dots on the opponent's remaining dominoes.
Steps to Play
How to Play Basic Dominoes with Two Players
Shuffle the dominoes face-down and draw 7 each. Before you start a game of dominoes, lay out all the dominoes face-down on the table and shuffle them well using your hands. Each player then draws 7 dominoes and keeps them hidden from the other player, displaying only their own pips or dots.
- Shuffling this way is often referred to as 'washing the dishes.'
- Place the remaining dominoes face-down off to the side—this becomes the 'boneyard,' where players will draw new dominoes from during the game.
- This game can use either 'double six' or 'double nine' domino sets, where the highest pip count on a domino is a pair of sixes or nines.
The player with the highest double domino plays it first. The player holding the highest double in their hand places it face-up in the center of the table. This domino is called the 'spinner,' and other dominoes will be placed next to it. If a player has the double-six, they go first since it’s the highest possible double. If not, the player with the next highest double will begin the game.
The second player must place a domino that matches the first one. After the first player has placed their domino, the second player selects a domino from their hand that matches one of the pips on the first domino. For example, if the first domino is a double-six, the second domino must have a 6 on at least one side.
- Place the domino perpendicularly, ensuring the matching number touches the middle of the first domino.
- You can place the matching domino on either side of the spinner.
Players alternate turns, matching a domino to one of the end dominoes. At the start, there are two open ends where dominoes can be placed. As the game progresses, you may encounter new ends, especially when a double domino is played, creating additional playable spots. Each player takes turns placing a domino that matches one of the open ends on the table.
- For example, if one end shows a 2, you may place a 2-6 domino onto that side, as long as the 2 side is the open end.
- When a double domino is played, it’s placed perpendicularly to the end domino, creating two new ends and multiple spots for the next player to place their domino.
Draw from the boneyard if you have no playable dominoes. If you can't match any of the dominoes at the ends of the line, draw from the boneyard. Continue drawing until you find a domino that can be played. Keep in mind that the more dominoes you draw, the harder it might become for you to win!
Win by being the first to play all your dominoes. The first player to get rid of all their dominoes wins the round! If you're playing multiple rounds, count the pips on your opponent’s remaining dominoes, and add that to your score. Continue playing as many rounds as you like, and after the final round, the player with the highest score wins.
- If neither player can play from their hand, and no dominoes are left in the boneyard, the player with the fewest pips wins, and their score is the number of pips in their opponent's hand.
How to Play “Fives” with Two Players
Shuffle the dominoes face-down, then draw 7 each. Place all the dominoes face-down on the table and shuffle them thoroughly. Each player draws 7 dominoes, keeping them hidden so that only they can see the pips or dots on their pieces.
- Set the remaining dominoes aside face-down. This is known as the 'boneyard.'
- This game uses a set of double-six dominoes, where the maximum number of pips on a domino is 12.
- While similar to Straight Dominoes (explained earlier), this version features a unique scoring system.
Place the highest double domino to start. The player holding the highest double in their hand plays it first, placing it face-up at the center of the table. This domino is referred to as the 'spinner' and serves as the foundation for the rest of the game.
- The highest double is the domino with two sets of 6 pips. If a player has this, it must be played first.
Play a domino that matches the double, as the second player. Once the spinner domino is placed on the table, the second player must play their first domino, ensuring that it matches one of the numbers on the spinner. For instance, if the first player laid down a double-five, the second player must place a domino with 5 pips on one side.
- Position your domino so that the matching side is perpendicular to the first domino, touching its center.
Take turns adding dominoes to the exposed ends. Players now alternate placing dominoes on the exposed ends of the domino chain. These 'end' dominoes are the ones that have at least one side showing—no adjacent domino. For example, you could place a 2-3 domino onto a 3-4 domino so that both 3s are touching.
- When a double domino is played, place it perpendicularly, so the center line touches the exposed end of the domino. After that, players can add dominoes to any of the three exposed sides of the double domino.
Add to your score if the ends total a multiple of 5. After playing a domino, check if the sum of the pips on all exposed ends of the domino chain is a multiple of 5. If it is, you score! Count the pips on the exposed ends and add that number to your score. If the ends don’t add up to a multiple of 5, no points are scored.
- For example, if you played a domino with an exposed end of 3, and across from you, there are exposed ends of 5 and 2 pips, the total is 10, which is a multiple of 5. You score 10 points.
- Both sides of a double domino count towards the total.
- The first domino doesn’t score any points.
Draw from the boneyard if you can’t play any dominoes. If none of the dominoes in your hand match the exposed ends of the chain, draw a domino from the boneyard. Keep drawing until you find a playable domino. But be cautious—the more dominoes you draw, the tougher it will be to win, as your hand will grow larger!
End the round and compare scores when someone plays their last domino. The round ends as soon as a player places their last domino. The player who finishes also earns bonus points equal to the pips left in their opponent's hand, rounded to the nearest multiple of 5. After that, compare scores to see who won the round!
- If neither player can play and the boneyard is empty, the last player to place a domino gets the 'finishing' points.
- Feel free to play multiple rounds, adding the scores as you go. The first player to reach 250 points wins the game.
How to Play Mexican Train with 2 Players
Place the double-twelve domino face-up at the center of the table. Begin by finding the domino with 12 pips on each side, totaling 24 pips. This domino is placed face-up in the middle of the table and serves as the starting point for your trains.
- Mexican Train uses 'double twelve' dominoes, where the highest number of pips is 12 on both sides of the domino.
- Although you can play with double-six dominoes, the game will be much shorter with them.
Shuffle the dominoes face-down and draw 16 for each player. Place all the dominoes face-down on the table and shuffle them thoroughly. Each player then draws 16 dominoes, placing them in front of them, with only their pips visible to themselves. The remaining dominoes form the 'boneyard.'
- Before drawing your 16 dominoes, each player draws one domino from the center. The player with the higher number of pips on their domino goes first. Afterward, both dominoes are shuffled back into the pile, and the players each draw 16 dominoes.
Take turns building domino trains from the starting domino. The first player begins by playing a domino that matches the number on the starting domino (which is a double-twelve, so the first domino must have 12 pips on one side). This domino starts your personal train. Players then take turns, playing one domino per turn. Each domino must match the number on the last domino of the train.
- For example, you might play a 12-4 domino on the 12-12 starter domino, then a 4-1 domino, and so on.
- You can also start a public train off of the center domino. Both players can play on public trains, and up to 8 trains can extend from the center domino.
Draw dominoes from the boneyard if you cannot make a match. If no domino in your hand matches the end of any train on the table, you must draw a domino from the boneyard. If the drawn domino is playable, place it immediately. Otherwise, forfeit your train, ending your turn. The other player can then play on your train until you draw a domino you can play.
- On each turn, you can draw only one domino. You must play it if it’s a legal move; otherwise, your turn ends, and the next player proceeds.
Play an additional domino when you place a double domino. Whenever you play a double domino, you must immediately follow up with another domino. Double dominoes are placed perpendicular to the last domino, so that their center touches the previous domino. If you can’t play another domino—because you don’t have one that matches—it creates an ‘open double.’ Open doubles are handled as follows:
- Draw a new domino right away. If it matches, play it on the open double, which will close the double and the game proceeds as normal.
- If you can’t place the new domino on the open double, you forfeit your train, and the other player can add dominoes to your train until you draw and play one on your turn.
- If you can’t close your train immediately, the other player must attempt to do so. If they can't close it either, they too forfeit their train.
- Both players continue drawing dominoes until someone can close the open double. The game cannot continue until the double is closed.
Continue playing until a player runs out of dominoes, then tally up your scores. When a player plays their last domino, the round ends. The number of pips left in your hand is added to your score (which will be zero if you've played all your dominoes). In Mexican Train, the goal is to keep your score as low as possible.
Win by having the lowest score after 12 rounds. After the first round, replace the 12-12 domino with the 11-11 domino, shuffle the dominoes again, and begin the next round. Continue playing rounds, each starting with the next lowest double domino, until you reach the 1-1 round. At that point, calculate the scores. The player with the lowest score wins!
- If you'd prefer a quicker game, begin with the 6-6 domino and work your way down to 1-1, or stop playing when you reach the 6-6 domino.
