Some simple strategy notes for Block and Draw:
Look at the dominoes you hold and try to play them in
such a way as to set yourself up for plays on your next
turn.
If you have lots of 2s, try to play a 2 so you will be
able to match it the next time around (if someone else
doesn’t get to it first).
Since you know all the dominoes in the double 6 set,
you can deduce what dominoes your opponents might
be holding by observing which dominoes have been
played and which you hold in your hand.
Winning the Game:
Before you start, and depending on how long you want
to play, set a number (say 100 or 200) and the first play-
er to reach that score wins the game.
GAME #3 MUGGINS
This is a simple game in which you can score points
every time you play a domino.
Number of players: 2, 3 or 4 may play. If 4 are playing
each may play individually or you may create two teams
of two players each.
The Objective: To outscore your opponents. You score
by adding up the count of dominoes at the ends of the
layout after each play. (explained below)
The Set-Up: Turn all dominoes face down and mix
them. Each player draws 5 dominoes and sets them up
so the others cannot see them.
The Play: As in the
“Block”
game above, dominoes must
be played so their ends match. Dominoes are laid end to
end except doubles which are laid across the line of play.
As in
“block”,
you cannot play on the ends of a double
once it is placed. Play proceeds clockwise around the
table.
How to score: In Muggins, you can score each time a
domino is placed as well as at the end of the game. The
object is for the open ends of the dominoes to be a mul-
tiple of 5. For each multiple of 5, you score one point.
Here are some examples
Open ends are 1 and 4, count is 5, score one point
Count both ends of the double 6. Open ends are 6, 6 and
3, count is 15, score is 3 points.
(also note above that the open ends of the double 5 are
not counted. A double is only counted when it is on the
end of the line of play)
Counting the score after each play When a player makes
a score after placing a domino, a scorekeeper notes the
score at that time.The running score can also be kept on
a counter or cribbage board.
Drawing from the boneyard If a player cannot place a
domino, he draws from the boneyard until he can make
a play. In a two-person game, all but two of the dominoes
in the boneyard may be drawn In a three or four-person
game, all but one of the dominoes in the boneyard may
be drawn.
Ending the hand The first player to use all his tiles calls
“domino”
and this ends the hand.
If no player can play
his last domino and the boneyard has been depleted
down to one or two dominoes (see “drawing from the
boneyard” above), the hand is over.
Scoring at the end of the hand When the hand is
over
, the player (or team) with the lowest number of
dots on their remaining dominoes receives additional
points based on the number of dots in the opponents
hands
.
For every multiple of 5 dots in the opponents hands,
the winner receives one point. For a count of 1 or 2
above a multiple of 5, there is no additional score. For
a count of 3 or 4 above a multiple of 5, round up to
the nearest 5.
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