Cross

A simple variation on the Block domino game, played by two to four players using a Double-Six domino set and a score sheet.

Play:

The dominoes are shuffled, facedown, then each player draws a number of tiles, that only they can look at, that differs according to the number of players taking part. 

• Two players draw 7 tiles each.
• Three players draw 6 tiles each.
• Four players draw 5 tiles each. 

Any remaining tiles are used as the boneyard and may be drawn upon by players during the course of play.

The lead player holding the heaviest double sets it down and then players in turn lay tiles onto the open ends of the domino layout with same-number adjacent to same-number (doubles placed horizontally onto ends, allowing play to branch four ways, and known as a spinner).  However, players must first set tiles on all four sides of the first set tile, forming a cross, before any further tiles may be played. Should a player be unable to play a domino from their hand onto the layout, they must continue to draw one tile from any in the boneyard until they are able to play one or until the boneyard is exhausted.

Once a player has dominoed by setting their last tile, or the game is blocked with no player able to set a tile, the round is over and the player who dominoed or has the lowest total of pips left in their hand, is the winner of that round.  The winner of a round then scores the total number of pips on all the other players' dominoes, minus the pip total on any remaining dominoes in their hand.

A number of rounds are played and the first player to score a set total (say 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 points), wins the game.  

Variations:

If after every player has had a turn, not all four sides of the leading double have been played, no subsequent play may be made on these open sides.

Players draw an initial 6 dominoes regardless of how many are playing.

Only the first double is played as a spinner.

The last two tiles remaining in the boneyard are not drawn when players are unable to set a tile onto the layout.

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