One-Armed Joe

Also known as One-Armed Pete.  A simple variation on the Block domino games, played by any number of players, although it is thought five to nine players is best, using any Western domino set from Double-Sixes to Double-Eighteens, and a score-sheet.  A good game for children.

Play:

The dominoes are shuffled, facedown, then each player draws 3 tiles that only they can look at.  Any remaining tiles are used as the boneyard and may be drawn upon by players during the course of play.

The lead player sets down the first domino (the double-six, heaviest double or whatever convention players have agreed on) and then players in turn lay tiles onto one, and only one, open end of the domino layout with same-number adjacent to same-number (doubles placed inline onto ends and not allowing play to branch four ways).  This one "arm" of adjacent tiles is where the game gets its name from.  Players who play a double onto the layout have another turn and must lay another tile or pass if they are unable to play one.

Should a player be unable to play a domino from their hand onto the layout, they must continue drawing tiles from the boneyard until they are able to play one or 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 total number of pips 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.  

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