Dominoes here is the classic two-player draw game, played with a double-six set of 28 tiles. You play against a computer opponent called Jack. Match the numbers at the ends of the line, and be the first to empty your hand. A match is played over several rounds, up to 100 points.

How to play

Each player starts with 7 tiles, and the other 14 wait face down in the boneyard. In the first round, whoever holds the highest double opens with it. If neither of you has a double, the heaviest tile opens.

Your tiles are shown at the bottom. Tiles you can play are raised.

Play a tile: tap a raised tile (or click it). Its number must match a number at one end of the line. If it fits both ends, you will be asked to choose which end.
Draw: if nothing fits, tap the boneyard to draw a tile. Keep drawing until you can play. When the boneyard is empty and you cannot play, you pass.

The line of tiles wraps onto a new row when it gets long, so it fits a small screen too.

A round ends when one player has no tiles left. That player scores all the dots still in the other hand. If nobody can move, the hand with fewer dots wins the round and scores the difference. The first player to reach 100 points wins the game.

The levels

The tiles are the same on all levels. What changes is how Jack plays.

Easy: Jack plays any tile that fits.
Medium: Jack plays his heavy tiles first, and aims for ends you cannot match.
Hard: Jack counts the tiles still out there and tries to leave you stuck.
Expert: Jack imagines your hand many times over and plays the move that scores best.

Jack only uses what a real player could see: his own hand, the line on the table, and when you had to draw or pass.

Today's game

There is one Medium game a day, with the deal worked out from a seed that everyone shares. If you leave in the middle, the game is saved.

Tips

Play your heavy tiles early. The dots left in your hand count against you if the round ends before you are out, so it is wise not to be left holding a double six.
Keep a spread of numbers in your hand. If you hold tiles with many different numbers, you are less likely to be stuck.
Pay attention when Jack has to draw. If he drew at the ends 3 and 5, he has no tile with a 3 or a 5 at that time. Try to keep those numbers open.
Doubles can only be played on their own number, so they are awkward to hold. Play them while their number is at an end.
When a tile fits both ends, think about which end you cover. Leave open the numbers you hold plenty of, and cover the ones you lack.
Late in a round, count the tiles. There are seven of each number, so if many of one number are on the table, few remain.
When the boneyard is empty, add up the dots in your hand. A blocked game goes to the hand with fewer dots, so you can sometimes choose to block on purpose.

A bit of history

Sets of dominoes were known in Europe by the eighteenth century, and the game has stayed popular at kitchen tables ever since.

Questions

Why must I keep drawing? When you have no tile that fits, you draw until one does. This is the draw game rule.

What if both ends fit my tile? You choose the end you want, and the tile is placed there.

What if nobody can move? The round ends. The hand with fewer dots wins it and scores the difference.

How many points win the match? The first to reach 100 points. Rounds are repeated until one of you gets there.

Dominoes