WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOMINO TOURNAMENT^® RULES - Children

Rules-Adult Division | Back to Main Menu 

1. BE ON TIME or be disqualified.  A player can be disqualified if over 15 minutes late for a match.
2. The tournament will have a consolation bracket for each player that loses in the first round.
3. THE TIME LIMIT ON matches will be exactly 1½ hours.  Place the starting time at the top of the score sheet.  Anyone intentionally delaying the game will be warned.  If slow play continues, they may be disqualified from the tournament.
4. DO NOT LEAVE THE BUILDING.  This could delay the tournament and you may be disqualified.
5. CHANGING PARTNERS is permitted before the first game of the tournament, but not after it begins.
6. COUNTS.  A player must call out his/her points aloud before the next person plays, draws, or passes.  (Either partner my call the count.)  SCORING will be done in multiples of 5 (200 points per game).  MATCH is the best 2 out of 3 (including finals).  Games may be shortened due to time constraints.
7. SINGLES MATCHES will be played one-on-one.  Each player will draw 7 dominoes.  Both players are responsible for checking on underdraws or overdraws BEFORE play begins.  A player that underdraws or overdraws will be charged a 40-point penalty.
8. DREW AND COULD PLAY:  If a player draws a domino when he/she can play, the player will be charged a 40-point penalty or a penalty in the amount of points in his/her hand, whichever is greater.
9. OVER-DRAWING THE HAND IN DOUBLES is a 40-point penalty if the dominoes are turned up.  If the dominoes are drawn out but not turned up, the player that varies less than 7 will draw from his hand.
10. PASSED AND COULD PLAY:  If a player passes who could play, the player will receive a 40-point penalty.  The game will be stopped at that point, and the next person will go down.
11. NO CHEATING is permitted by word, deed, or action. Trying to transfer information to a partner is cheating.  Any suspected cheating should immediately be called to the attention of the floor judge. Do not wait until after the game or hand is finished.  A player who cheats can receive a 40-point penalty or be expelled from the tournament.
12. FIRST TO GO DOWN is determined by shuffling the dominoes and drawing.  The high draw wins the down.  The person to the right of the downer will shuffle each time.  If the downer is not satisfied with the shuffles, 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 let the person to his right 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 looks at his/her dominoes, etc.)
13. DO NOT REARRANGE THE DOMINOES once all 7 have been turned up in your hand.  The first time a player violates this rule, he/she will receive a warning.  (Call a judge to issue the warning.)  If the violation is repeated, a 25-point penalty can be charged to the player.
14. NO REDRAW OR RESHUFFLE will be allowed due to voids in suits or too many doubles.
15. 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.
16. DOMINOES EXPOSED during the shuffle will be reshuffled.  Dominoes exposed while drawing a hand will be accepted by the person exposing them.
17. ALL DOMINOES MUST REMAIN ON THE TABLE and cannot be flashed or picked-up.  A player violating this rule can be charged a 25-point penalty.  Once a domino clears the table, it is considered played.
18. MISPLAYED DOMINO:  If a player misplays s domino and the error is caught before the next person plays or passes, the domino 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 chance by the person making the error.  The player with the turned-up domino must play or pass prior to the next play.  If the misplayed domino is not caught before the next person passes or plays, it will stand as a “played domino.”
19. PLAYING ON A WRONG DOUBLE FOR THE SPINNER:  If a person plays a domino on the wrong double for the spinner and it is not caught before the next player plays or passes, then that double becomes the spinner.  If the wrong play is caught before the next player plays or passes, rule number 18 will apply.
20. IF PLAYED OUT OF TURN, a domino will be left face-up on the table and played at the first opportunity.
21. A BLOCKED GAME in singles is when all the dominoes have been drawn and no players can play.  In both singles and doubles, the person with the lowest number of points gets the points in the opponent’s hand(s).  No one gets the points in case of a tie.
22. AT THE END OF EACH HAND, all dominoes must be turned up so opponents can view and count the points to eliminate any possible violation of rules #8 and #10.

An opponent must challenge the player who violated any rule in order for a penalty to be imposed.  Call a judge if necessary.

SPECTATORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SIT OR STAND AROUND THE PLAYERS DURING A GAME.

SPECTATORS CANNOT TALK AMONG THEMSELVES OR TO PLAYERS.

PLAYERS BREAKING DOMINOES MAY BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THEM.