How to Play Partner Dominoes

The complete rules for 2 vs 2 (4-handed) partner dominoes: setup, matching, doubles, passing, blocked games and scoring — plus tips to win. Play free in your browser.

Setup

• A standard double-six set: 28 tiles, from 0-0 to 6-6.
• Four players form two teams of two; partners sit opposite each other.
• Each player draws 7 tiles and keeps them hidden from the others.
• The player holding the highest double opens the game (6-6 first, then 5-5, and so on). If nobody has a double, the tile with the highest total pip count opens.

Object of the game

Be the first team to 100 points. Each hand scores points — either by going out (playing your last tile) or, in a blocked game, by holding the fewest leftover pips. Scores accumulate across rounds until a team reaches the target.

How a turn works

• Play passes counter-clockwise around the table.
• On your turn, play a tile that matches one of the two open ends of the chain — the touching numbers must always be equal.
• A double played in the middle of a hand only opens one side. Later, a double is laid crosswise and touches the chain with its short side, so both halves stay visible.
• If you cannot play any tile, press Pass (or Space on desktop).
• The first player to get rid of all seven tiles goes out and ends the round.

Passing and blocked games

A player who has no legal move passes and play continues. If every player has passed or nobody can play (a blocked game — for example both open ends are 6 and every 6 is already on the table), the round ends immediately, with no further passing.

Scoring

• Going out: the team that goes out scores the total number of pips (dots) still left in the opponents' hands.
• Blocked game: each team counts its own leftover pips — the team holding FEWER pips wins the round and scores the other team's total. If both teams hold the same number, the round scores nothing.
• The first team to reach 100 points wins the match.

Strategy tips

• Feed your partner: play the same suit as your teammate so they can keep playing.
• Hold low tiles: when you go out, the pips left in your opponents' hands count against you — a low hand gives up fewer points.
• Count the pips: watch which suits are running out and block the ends your opponents need.
• Keep the highest doubles until it is safe — a 6-6 can win a hand if you manage to close both ends on 6.