Cyprus

A variation on the block-type domino game Sebastopol, played by four to ten players using a Double-Nine 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 varies according to the number of players taking part. 

• 4 players draw 9 tiles each
• 5 players draw 8 tiles each
• 6 players draw 7 tiles each.
• 7 players draw 7 tiles each
• 8 players draw 6 tiles each
• 9 players draw 6 tiles each
• 10 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 double-nine sets it down.  If no player holds the double-nine, then all players continue to draw another tile each until someone draws it and then sets it.  Then players in turn lay tiles onto the open ends of the domino layout with same-number adjacent to same-number (doubles placed inline onto ends and not allowing play to branch four ways).  However, players must first set eight tiles on all four sides and on all four diagonals of the first set tile, forming an eight-pointed star, before any further tiles may be played. Should a player be unable to play a domino from their hand onto the layout, they must draw only one tile from any in the boneyard and play it if they are able or pass if they are not.

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 total number of pips on any dominoes remaining in their hand.

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

Variations:

Sometimes played with the last tile in the boneyard not drawn when players are unable to make a play.

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