r_9_0 — w_rules

International Dominoes

Dominoes for four in two pairs, played by the international rules — the ones the Russian Domino Federation publishes too. Moving, adjusting the line and the end of a deal are described in the basics. This page covers what makes this variant different.

Pairs

The first and third players against the second and fourth. Partners sit opposite each other and move in turn with the opponents between them. Partners' hands are counted together.

The deal

Each player gets 7 tiles — the whole set. There is no boneyard: a player with no move passes, and the pass is made automatically.

Who starts

The first deal of the match is started by the player holding the highest tile — the most pips, and on a tie the most pips on one of its halves. Any tile may be played first.

Every following deal is started by the winner of the previous one: the player who played their last tile. If the deal ended blocked — the player of the winning pair with fewer points in hand. If the blocked deal was a tie — the player who blocked it.

Scoring

Every tile is worth its pips: 6–6 is 12, 0–0 is zero.

• Someone plays their last tile. Their pair scores everything left in the hands — the opponents' and their partner's.
• Blocked game. The pair with fewer points in hand wins the deal and scores both pairs' totals. If they are level, nobody scores.

Example: you play your last tile. Your partner still holds 1–2, the opponents hold 6–6 and 0–0. Your pair scores 3 + 12 + 0 = 15.

The match

The first pair to reach 200 points wins the match.

When offering a game

• The match target.
• Tiles per hand — from 2 to 7: seven each for four players is already the whole set.