Only four people can play Partner Dominoes. Sitting around a square table, your partner is the person directly in front of you. Each person plays to help their partner and themselves while competing against their opponents.
Equipment
We need:
- Four chairs
- A square table
- One standard domino set
The Deal
Each player receives 7 dominoes.
The Play
The first hand begins with the player who has the Double Six domino in their hand. This player must begin by playing the Double Six.
We ask all players to be considerate of fellow players, friends, spectators, vendors, and sponsors by keeping the games moving at a steady pace. Therefore, you are only allowed 45 seconds to play each domino.
Match Format
- Four players compete in each match.
- Matches are played as the Best Two-Out-of-Three Games/Sets.
- The Championship Final is played as the Best Three-Out-of-Five Games.
Suit
There are 28 dominoes in a standard set, ranging from Double Blank to Double Six, with seven dominoes in each suit.
STRAIGHT-Intellectual Style Jamaican & French Partner Dominoes
Below are the steps on how to play STRAIGHT-Intellectual Style Jamaican & French Partner Dominoes.
To Start the Game
Scoring
The winner stays, but the loser is eliminated in two out of three games.
Object of the Game
The aim is to win six or twelve games in succession — to give your opponent "Six Love (6-0)" or "Twelve Love (12-0)."
So long as one side keeps winning, they continue adding wins to their total. The quickest team to win the most games straight without the opposing team winning advances.
If a player plays all of their dominoes first, that player or team wins the hand.
The team that wins the most games in each set of six advances.
Exception
When the game reaches 1-1, instead of starting over, there is a playoff hand. The team or player wins the game, then goes up 2-0 and starts the next game.
The first team to reach 12 straight games without the opposing team winning advances to the next round. However, if both teams win one game each, the next team to reach 6 games wins.
Matches are played as the Best Two-Out-of-Three Games/Sets, with each set consisting of six games.
Winning the Hand
The first person to play their last domino wins.
If the game becomes BLOCKED, meaning every player still has at least one domino but no one can make another play, whether by intended or unintended play, the player with the lowest count wins.
Points are calculated by adding the number of dots remaining on each domino left in a player's hand.
Shuffling
Shuffling is the act of thoroughly mixing the dominoes face down on a sturdy table before each hand.
Before each game:
- The losing team shuffles.
- If the winning team or partner is not satisfied with the shuffle, they may request a reshuffle.
- The winner always has the option to shuffle, provided they have not looked at the dominoes before requesting a shuffle.
- ABSOLUTELY NO swapping or reshuffling after anyone has looked at their dominoes.
Re-Shuffle
A player or team/partner may request a reshuffle only when:
- A domino has been exposed during the shuffle.
- A player pulls too many dominoes and looks at one or more of them.
- A player receives 6 or 7 doubles.
- Everyone was present at the table during the shuffle.
Draw
Each player draws seven dominoes to start each game.
Players are not allowed to:
- Tell their partner what dominoes they have.
- Tell their partner what dominoes they need.
- Ask questions once the game has started.
If a player draws too many dominoes, they must allow the opposing player who is short to randomly draw one facedown domino from them without looking.
If this is deemed intentional, the player or team will lose one game.
Slamming
Slamming is allowed, but please use your discretion.
It must occur at the edge of the table and must not disrupt or break up the game.
If you expose your own or another player's dominoes:
- Your team loses one game if deemed intentional.
- If the team has not yet won a game, the first game they win will be taken away.
Pose
The first game always begins with the Double Six pose.
After that, the winning team's pose is used, and they may place the opening domino horizontally or vertically.
In STRAIGHT-Style Jamaican Dominoes, only two sides of the dominoes are used to match.
Gameplay
Play continues anti-clockwise.
Each turn consists of playing one domino to extend either end of the layout, ensuring that matching values touch.
The Hand
"The Hand" refers to all the dominoes in a player's hand or on the table.
If a player's dominoes are accidentally or intentionally exposed, and those dominoes can legally be played on either end, the opposing team has the option to:
- Play the exposed domino, or
- Take away one game.
Misplayed Domino
If a misplayed domino is caught before the next player plays or passes, the opposing team has the option to:
- Play the domino on either end if it can legally be played, or
- Require the player who made the error to keep the domino until the first legal opportunity to play it.
If the action is deemed intentional, the partner will lose one game.
Therefore, all hands should remain off the table except when playing a domino.
Changing Partners
Changing partners is not permitted during a set.
Pass
If a player does not have a domino that matches either end of the layout, they must pass.
The turn then passes to the player on the immediate right (counter-clockwise).
Most players either say "Pass" or knock on the table to indicate a pass.
Just say "Pass!"
Blocked Game
A blocked game occurs when no player can continue playing, even though every player still has dominoes remaining, and no domino matches either end of the layout after all dominoes have been drawn.
Each player must immediately reveal their remaining dominoes.
The player with the lowest total count wins the game.
If two opponents tie for the fewest numbers/spots, the hand is declared a tie regardless of the other players' totals.
The next game will then be played for two, beginning with the Double Six pose.