A marker on a train means that the train is open to the other players. While there is
a marker on your train, you can still play on any available train on your turns. You
may remove the marker from your personal train after playing on it.
Double Dominoes
A double tile is placed sideways on the train (see picture).
When you play a double, you must play an additional tile that is not a double
(unless the double is your last domino, in which case the round ends). You can
play the additional tile on the double or on any open train.
Because you are required to end your turn by playing a non-double, you must
draw if you don’t have one. If you still can’t play, place your marker on your train.
Open Double: If the double is left open (not played on) when your turn ends, the
next tile to be played has to be played on the open double, ie. the double must
be closed before any other trains can be played on. If the subsequent players
cannot close the double even after drawing, they must place a marker on their
personal train.
If it is impossible to close a double because all 12 tiles that would match it have
already been played, that open double does not restrict play.
Ending a Round
When there are no more tiles in the bone pile, a player must pass if he does not
hold a playable tile, and place a marker on his train.
When a player has only one tile left, he should announce this by tapping it on the
table.
A round ends when a player has “dominoed” (played his last tile), or when the
bone pile is depleted and no one can play anymore.
Subsequent Rounds
Each new round begins with the double that is one number lower than the engine
in the last round (12, then 11, etc.). The blank double is the engine in the last round.
Scoring & the Winner
At the end of each round, each player adds up the value of his unplayed tiles and
gives the number to the scorekeeper (for example: 5-7 has a value of 12, 9-9 has a
value of 18). The player with the lowest total score at the end of the final round
wins.
Variations
For a faster game with 2 to 4 players, remove all tiles that have at least 1 end
with a value of 10 or more. Two players draw 15 tiles each; 3 players draw 13
each; 4 players draw 10 tiles each. In this case the double-9 domino is the
engine.
For a different kind of game experience, play with open tiles. The bone yard
is face down, but all the players’ tiles are visible to all players.
