WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOMINO TOURNAMENT^® RULES - Adults

Rules-Children's Division | Back to Main Menu

1. BE ON TIME. Do not leave the building; doing so can delay the tournament and you may be disqualified. No smoking or coffee breaks are permitted during matches.  Check with the brackets table before taking any break.
   
2. THE TIME LIMIT ON MATCHES will be exactly 1 1/2 hours. Record the starting time at the top of the score sheet. Call for a judge after the first game if a game is progressing too slowly. The judge may reduce the points in the remaining games for the match to 200.  A judge may also reduce points to 200 for additional matches until that bracket is no longer behind in play.  (Those intentionally delaying the game will be warned. If slow play continues, the player playing too slowly may be disqualified from the tournament.)
3. CHANGING PARTNERS is not permitted.
   
4. COUNTS must be orally called before the next person plays, draws or passes. (Either partner may call the count.) SCORING will be done in multiples of 5 (250 points per game). MATCH is best 2 out of 3 (including finals).
5. SINGLES MATCHES will be played one-on-one with each player drawing 7 dominoes. Both players are responsible for checking on underdraws or overdraws before play begins. A 50-point penalty will be imposed.
6. DREW AND COULD PLAY: This will result in a 50-point penalty or the amount in that player's hand, whichever is greater.
7. OVER-DRAWING THE HAND IN DOUBLES is a 50-point penalty if the dominoes are turned up. If drawn out but not turned up, the player with less than 7 will draw from the hand of the one over drawing.
8. PASSED AND COULD PLAY is a 50-point penalty. The game stopped at that point and the next person will go down.
9. NO CHEATING is permitted by word, deed, or action, including trying to transfer information to a partner. Any suspected cheating should immediately be called to the attention of the floor judge. Do not wait until after the game or hand. A 50-point penalty or expulsion from the tournament can be the result of cheating.
10. NO DRINKING, SMOKING, LOUD TALKING, USING PROFANITY, OR SLAPPING DOMINOES DOWN ON THE TABLE. Those breaking dominoes will be required to pay for a new set. Use of alcoholic beverages is forbidden by state law. Smoking must be done outside the building in a designated area. Spectators cannot talk among themselves or to players during a game.
11. FIRST TO GO DOWN is determined by shuffling the dominoes and drawing. The high draw wins the down. The person to the right of downer will shuffle each time. If the downer is not satisfied with the shuffle, he may ask for a reshuffle. Players will draw in order. Only the downer will turn his dominoes up. He will place his choice face down and the person to his right will turn it face up. Dominoes in each hand will remain face down until it is that person's turn to play. (Player #2 plays before #3 and #4 look at his/her dominoes, etc). Participants shall keep their hands below table level except when setting up the dominoes, playing a domino, or marking a score.
    
12. DO NOT REARRANGE, FLASH, OR PICK UP DOMINOES once all 7 have been turned up in your hand. A warning will be given for the first infraction of this rule. (Call a judge to issue the warning.) If repeated, a 25-point penalty can be imposed by a judge. Once a domino clears the table, it is considered played.
13. NO REDRAW OR RESHUFFLE is permitted due to voids in suits or too many doubles.
14. ALL DOMINOES NOT IN THE SHUFFLE are the responsibilities of all players. If some are accidentally left out, they will be returned to the deck and reshuffled. If they are intentionally left out, refer to a judge for a ruling.
15. DOMINOES EXPOSED during the shuffle will be reshuffled.
16. Dominoes exposed while drawing a hand will be accepted by the person exposing it.
17. MISPLAYED DOMINO, if caught before the next person plays or passes, will be played elsewhere on the table, if it will play. If it will not play, it will be turned face-up on the table and played at the first opportunity by the person making the error. Prior to the next play, the player with the turned-up domino must play or pass. If the misplayed domino is not caught before the next person passes or plays, it will stand as a played domino.
18. IF THE WRONG DOUBLE IS PLAYED ON FOR THE SPINNER and is not caught before the next player plays or passes, that double will stand as the spinner. If the wrong play is caught before the next player plays or passes, Rule #19 will apply.
19. IF PLAYED OUT OF TURN, a domino will be left face-up on the table and played at the first opportunity.
20. A BLOCKED GAME in singles results only after all the dominoes have been drawn and neither player can play. In both singles and doubles, the lowest number of points get the points in the opponent's hand(s). (In the case of a tie, no one gets the points.)