How to Keep Score in Dominoes on Paper
The scene is familiar in kitchens and pub snugs across Britain: tiles turned face down, shuffled with a satisfying clatter, and a scrap of paper waiting beside them. Dominoes rewards a sharp eye and a little arithmetic, and the scoring is where many a friendly rivalry is settled.
Writing scores by hand is part of the ritual. You need no app and no gadget, just a pencil, a sheet of paper, and an agreement on the rules before the first tile is laid.
If you are shopping for a set to play with, it is worth choosing one made to be handled by every age at the table. The dominoes across our traditional games are tested to UKCA and CE safety standards, so the tiles that pass between small hands and older ones alike are sound.
What You Need Before You Start a Game of Dominoes
The first thing you need is a set of dominoes. The double-six set is the most commonly used in the United Kingdom, and it contains 28 tiles covering every combination of zero to six spots across two ends.
That number is not arbitrary. A standard double-six set covers all possible pairings of nought to six, which produces exactly 28 unique tiles. Once you understand that, the game's structure starts to make sense.
You will also want paper and a pencil for scoring, and a flat surface where the layout can grow in two directions. A kitchen table or a steady board works well.
Two to four players is the usual number, though more can join with a larger set. For bigger games, a Double Nine Dominoes set gives 55 tiles, while our write-up on the double 12 dominoes set explains how even larger sets suit crowded tables.
Beginners often do well to start with the standard double-six before moving on. If you are weighing up which to buy, our guide to the best dominoes sets for 2026 compares the options side by side.
A set in a wooden case travels well and keeps every tile accounted for, which matters when a missing piece can halt a whole evening. You will find cased sets among our board games, alongside other classics worth keeping on the shelf.
How to Set Up and Play a Basic Game of Dominoes
Shuffle all the tiles face down and let each player draw a hand. In a two-player game, each takes seven tiles; with three or four players, each takes five. The remaining tiles form the 'boneyard', a reserve to draw from.
The player holding the highest double usually goes first, placing it in the centre. If no one holds a double, the highest-value tile opens play instead.
Players take turns adding a tile to either open end of the layout. A tile may only be placed if one of its ends matches the number already showing at that end of the chain.
Doubles are typically laid across the line, creating a new branch and an extra open end to build from. This small rule shapes much of the game's tactics.
If you cannot make a match, you draw from the boneyard until you can, or pass if the boneyard is empty. Keeping a tally of who passes helps later when you count the round.
The round ends when one player lays their final tile, calling 'domino', or when the game blocks and nobody can move. At that point the scoring begins.
The layout grows in unpredictable shapes, which is half the fun. Children take to it quickly, and it makes a fine rainy-day fixture among the ideas in our piece on keeping a child entertained over the summer. For a more elaborate layout, Mexican Train Dominoes introduces branching 'trains' that suit family play.
How to Keep Score in Dominoes on Paper, Round by Round
The simplest scoring method rewards the player who goes out first. When someone lays their last tile, the opponents count the pips remaining in their hands, and that total is awarded to the winner of the round.
Write each round's score on your paper in a column under each player's name. A running total down the page shows who is pulling ahead, and settles any dispute at a glance.
If the game blocks with no one able to move, every player counts the pips left in their hand. The player with the lowest total wins the round and scores the difference between their count and the others'.
Many players round scores to the nearest five, a habit that carries over from the pub game of Fives and Threes. Agree on whether you are rounding before the first round, so the paper stays honest.
A clear, neat column matters more than you might think. Mark each round on its own line, add a final row for the totals, and underline the winning figure when a target is reached.
Some families keep a notebook from one evening to the next, building a season-long league. It is a small tradition, but a lasting one.
Dominoes sits among the oldest games still played by hand, and its scoring has changed little over generations. Our history of dominoes traces how the European game took shape, and you will find more such stories across our wooden toys.
How Do You Win at Dominoes? Scoring Targets and End-Game Rules
A game is usually played to an agreed target, commonly 100 or 250 points, with rounds repeating until someone reaches it. Settle the target before you start, and mark it at the top of your scoresheet.
The player who first meets or passes the target wins the match. Because scores accumulate across rounds, a player can recover from a poor start with one strong round, which keeps everyone in the game until the end.
In block games, going out first is the clearest route to points, so holding high-value tiles late in a round is risky. Shedding your heaviest pieces early is sound practice.
Watch the open ends as the layout grows. Counting what others may still hold helps you decide whether to play safe or force a block to your advantage.
Good sportsmanship closes the match. The winner usually tallies the final column aloud, and the paper is kept or torn up as the mood suits.
Popular Dominoes Variations and How Their Scoring Differs
Fives and Threes is the variation most loved in British pubs. Points are scored when the open ends of the layout add up to a number divisible by five or three, with each multiple of five or three scoring one point. It turns every placement into a small calculation.
Mexican Train is another favourite, built around individual 'trains' that players extend from a central hub. Our Mexican Train Dominoes set comes in a wooden box and makes a generous gift for a family that enjoys a longer game.
Larger sets open up still more variants. A Double Nine Dominoes set, with its 55 tiles, suits bigger groups and longer scoring games where the extra numbers add depth.
European dominoes are generally believed to have appeared in Europe by the 18th century, with early references in Italy around the 1700s. The scoring conventions we use today grew out of that long tradition.
Whichever variation you choose, the principle holds: agree the rules, keep a clear sheet, and count honestly. You will find sets for every version among our traditional games, and plenty more to play outdoors in our outdoor games for brighter evenings.
£31.99 · value · tested to UKCA/CE
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Frequently Asked Questions About How To Keep Score In Dominoes On Paper
How do you keep score in dominoes on paper?
To keep score in dominoes on paper, write each player's or team's name across the top of the sheet and record points after every round beneath their column. In Fives and Threes, the variant popular in British pubs, tally points each time the open ends of the layout are divisible by five or three — each multiple scores one point. In simpler games, note the pip total of opponents' leftover tiles, which the winner claims. Agree a target score, commonly 61 or 121, before starting, and total each column as you go.
How do you play dominoes for beginners?
Start with a standard double-six set, which contains 28 tiles. Shuffle them face-down and deal seven tiles each to two players, or five each to three or four players. The player holding the highest double places it first. Players then take turns matching a tile's end to an open end on the layout. If you cannot match, draw from the remaining tiles (the boneyard). Play continues until one player places all their tiles or no moves remain. The player who empties their hand, or holds the fewest pips, wins the round.
What are the rules of dominoes?
Using a double-six set of 28 tiles, players draw a hand and take turns placing tiles so that touching ends share the same number of spots. The highest double typically starts play. A tile may only be placed where its end matches the open end it meets. In Draw dominoes, if you cannot play, you draw from the boneyard until you can. In Block dominoes, no drawing is allowed. The round ends when a player empties their hand or the game is blocked. Standard British pub play often follows Fives and Threes scoring rules.
How many players can play dominoes?
A standard double-six set, containing 28 tiles, comfortably supports two to four players. Two players typically draw seven tiles each; three or four players draw five each. Some households adapt the deal to suit the number of players, leaving a boneyard of spare tiles. Larger sets — such as double-nine or double-twelve — allow more participants. Dominoes also works well as a team game, with two pairs competing against each other, which is the common format in British pub leagues playing Fives and Threes.
What do you need to play dominoes?
You need a standard double-six set of 28 tiles, which covers every combination of zero to six spots across two ends. A flat surface large enough to lay out the growing tile layout is essential. For scoring, bring a pen and paper to record points across rounds. Agree beforehand on the variant you are playing — Block, Draw, or Fives and Threes — and set a target score. No additional equipment is required, making dominoes an accessible, low-cost game suitable for home, pub, or travel.
How do you win at dominoes?
In most variants, you win a round by being the first to place all your tiles, calling 'Domino!' To win the overall game, reach the agreed target score — often 61 or 121 points — before your opponents. In Fives and Threes, score points during play whenever the open ends of the layout are divisible by five or three. Tactically, playing doubles early reduces your pip count, which limits the points an opponent can claim if they go out first. Consistent, accurate scoring on paper across several rounds determines the overall winner.
What happens when no one can play a domino?
When no player can place a tile and the boneyard is empty, the game is said to be blocked. At this point the round ends immediately. Each player counts the total number of spots on the tiles remaining in their hand. The player or team with the lowest pip count wins the round. In most scoring systems, the winner collects the sum of all opponents' remaining pips as points for that round, which is then recorded on the scoresheet. Play then moves to the next round.
How many points do you need to win dominoes?
The target score varies by variant and house rules, but 61 and 121 are the most widely used totals in British play. In pub Fives and Threes leagues, 61 is a common match target because points accumulate one at a time — each multiple of five or three scoring one point — making 61 a natural finishing line. Some informal games use 100 or 200. Whatever total is chosen, agree it before starting and track progress on paper so all players can see how close each person or team is to winning.
How do you score the leftover tiles at the end of a round?
When a player goes out or the game is blocked, every player counts the pip total on their remaining tiles. The winner — the player with no tiles, or the fewest pips in a blocked game — receives a score equal to the combined pip total of all opponents' unplayed tiles, rounded to the nearest five in some variants. Record this figure in the winner's column on your scoresheet. If two teams are playing, combine each team's leftover pips before awarding the score to the opposing side.
What is the difference between Block dominoes and Draw dominoes?
In Block dominoes, if you cannot match a tile to the open ends of the layout, your turn is simply skipped — you may not take any tiles from the boneyard. In Draw dominoes, if you cannot play, you must draw from the boneyard until you pick a tile that can be placed, or until the boneyard is exhausted. Draw dominoes tends to produce longer games with more tactical options. Both variants use the standard double-six set of 28 tiles and the same basic matching rules; only the rule about drawing differs.
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