To play dominoes, follow these basic steps and rules:

Setup

• Use a standard domino set (commonly double six, which has 28 tiles).
• Shuffle all dominoes face down on the table; this pile is called the "boneyard."
• Each player draws a certain number of tiles (usually 7 for 2-4 players) and keeps them hidden from others

Starting the Game

• The player with the highest double tile (a tile with the same number of pips on both ends, e.g., double six) starts by placing it in the center of the table

• If no player has a double, tiles are reshuffled and redrawn

• Play proceeds clockwise

Playing Turns

• On your turn, you must place a domino from your hand so that one of its ends matches a number on an open end of the domino chain on the table

• For example, if the chain ends with a 5, you must place a domino with a 5 on one side next to it.
• Doubles are placed perpendicular to the chain and can open additional ends for play

• If you cannot play a tile, you must draw from the boneyard until you find a playable tile or pass if none is available

Ending the Round

• The round ends when a player plays all their dominoes (called "dominoing") or when no player can make a legal move (the game is "blocked")

• Players then reveal their remaining tiles and count the pips; the player with the lowest total pips wins the round

• The winner scores points equal to the total pips left in the opponents' hands

Winning the Game

• Play continues in rounds until a player reaches a set score, often 100 points

This is the basic "Block" dominoes game, which is the foundation for many other variations like Chicken Foot, Mexican Train, and All Fives

. In summary, the key is to match numbers on domino ends, strategically play doubles, and be the first to empty your hand or have the lowest pip count when the game blocks