How to Play Giant Dominoes: Block, Draw & Scoring Rules
Giant dominoes is the same classic tile game you grew up with, just blown up to chunky wooden blocks you lay out across the patio or grass. The goal is to be the first to play all your tiles by matching ends, and in the scoring versions you also rack up points when the open ends add up to a multiple of five. I run this one at every cookout because it is dead simple to learn, it fills the gap between the loud games, and even the kids who claim to hate board games end up hooked. Here is how to set it up, play both block and draw dominoes, and keep score the way most folks actually do.
What you need
- A set of giant dominoes (a standard double-six set has 28 tiles)
- A flat surface big enough to lay out a long chain: a table, deck, or smooth lawn
- Two to four players, or two teams of partners
- A scorepad or your phone if you are playing a scoring version
- A little patience, since the blocks are heavy and slide around outdoors
How to play giant dominoes: block, draw & scoring
- Shuffle and draw the boneyardTurn all the tiles face down and mix them up. This pile is called the boneyard. Each player draws a starting hand: seven tiles for two players, five tiles for three or four players. Keep your tiles hidden from the others. The rest of the tiles stay in the boneyard.
- Decide who goes firstThe player holding the highest double (the double-six if anyone has it) usually leads by laying it down. If nobody drew a double, draw extra tiles from the boneyard until someone turns one up, or just let the highest tile start. Set your house rule before the first game and stick with it.
- Match the endsOn your turn, add one tile to either open end of the chain so the touching halves show the same number. A tile that has a four can attach to any open four, and so on. Doubles are laid crosswise (perpendicular), which is mostly for looks outdoors but does mark a spot players sometimes build off of in branching variants.
- Draw when you cannot goIf you have no tile that matches either open end, draw from the boneyard until you can play, then play it. This is the draw game, which is the most common version. In the block game there is no drawing: if you cannot play, you simply pass your turn.
- Play until someone goes out or it locksThe round ends the moment one player lays their last tile and calls out, or when nobody can play and the game is blocked. A blocked game happens when both open ends are numbers nobody can match and the boneyard is empty.
- Score the roundWhen the round ends, every other player adds up the pips (the dots) left in their hand. In the simple version the player who went out scores the total of everyone else's leftover pips. Play more rounds until someone reaches an agreed target like 100 or 150 points.
Scoring
- Standard scoring: the player who plays all their tiles first wins the round and scores the total pips left in every opponent's hand
- If the game blocks (nobody can play), the player with the fewest pips left in hand wins the round and scores the difference, or the combined leftover pips, depending on your house rule
- Fives (Muggins) version: you also score whenever the two open ends of the chain add up to a multiple of five (a 5 and a blank scores 5, a 6 and a 4 scores 10)
- Doubles count both halves toward the open-end total in the fives version, so an open double-six on the end is worth 12 toward the multiple-of-five check
- First to a set target (commonly 100, 150, or 250 points) wins the match
Distance & setup
Fun variations
- Block dominoes: no drawing from the boneyard. If you cannot match, you pass. The round ends when someone goes out or the game locks. This is the fastest version and the easiest to teach.
- Draw dominoes: the most common version. When you cannot play, you draw tiles until you can. Longer rounds, fewer dead stalemates.
- Fives (Muggins): the scoring favorite. You earn points whenever the open ends total a multiple of five, on top of going-out points. More math, more strategy.
- All Fives partners: play Fives in two teams of two sitting across from each other, combining hands and scores. Great for four players who want a team game.
Giant Dominoes: Block, Draw & Scoring rules FAQ
How many dominoes do you start with in giant dominoes?
With a standard double-six set you deal seven tiles each for a two-player game, and five tiles each for three or four players. The rest stay face down in the boneyard. Larger double-nine or double-twelve sets change the deal, so check how many tiles your specific set includes.
What is the difference between block and draw dominoes?
In block dominoes you never draw from the boneyard, so if you cannot match an open end you pass your turn. In draw dominoes you keep pulling tiles from the boneyard until you find one you can play. Draw is more common because it leads to fewer locked, frustrating stalemates.
How do you score giant dominoes?
In the standard game the first player to lay all their tiles wins the round and scores the total pips still left in everyone else's hands. In the popular Fives version you also score points any time the two open ends of the chain add up to a multiple of five. Most matches play to a target like 100 or 150.
Do doubles have to be played sideways?
Traditionally yes. Doubles are laid crosswise to the chain, which marks them clearly and, in branching variants, can open a new direction to build off of. Outdoors with giant tiles this is mostly cosmetic, but it keeps the chain easy to read.
Can you play giant dominoes on grass?
You can, but a flat table, deck, or paver patio works better. The oversized wooden tiles are heavy and tend to lean or tip on uneven lawn, which makes the open ends hard to read. If you are playing on grass, pick the flattest spot you have and expect to nudge a few tiles upright.
How many tiles are in a giant dominoes set?
A standard double-six set has 28 tiles, which is what most giant lawn dominoes sets include. Some larger sets are double-nine (55 tiles) or double-twelve (91 tiles) for bigger groups. Always confirm the count on the set you are buying before assuming it is the full 28.
Ready to play?
Grab a set and start your league this weekend. We ranked the best giant dominoes: block, draw & scoring sets for every budget.
See our top giant dominoes: block, draw & scoring picks → Printable rules card