Dominoes becomes interesting the moment two moves both look good. Do you shed a heavy tile now or keep it to reopen a number later. Those small decisions give each round its character.

Getting a round under way

Each player receives seven tiles. A tile has two numbers and must match one of the open ends on the table. If an end shows six, you can connect the six on one of your tiles and leave its other number exposed.

When you have no legal tile, you draw until you find a move or the stock runs out. Passing is not a way to save a playable tile for later. If a tile fits two different ends, you choose where it goes.

Empty hands and blocked rounds

A round ends when a player empties their hand or nobody can make another move. In a blocked round, the total value left in each hand becomes decisive. The lower total has the advantage. A tied settlement awards no points for that round.

In Ryvo’s standard mode, points are charged to the losing side. A lower match score is therefore better. Reaching 100 means losing the match. Remember this if you know a version of dominoes that awards points to the winner.

Playing as a team

A four-player table has two teams, with partners sitting opposite each other. They share a score and the losing team’s remaining hands are added together for settlement. At a three-player friends table, everyone plays for themselves.

A useful habit

Watch which numbers make an opponent draw. Keep enough variety in your hand to avoid depending on a single number. As the stock runs low, think about the weight of your remaining tiles as well as your next move. A small tile can make a big difference when the table closes.