Use and Care Manual

Each player draws the number of tiles specified in the rules for the domino game being played and then
places them in front of himself in such a way that the other players can't see the pips on his tiles.
After all hands have been drawn, there may be a surplus of tiles left in the stock. These tiles should
remain face down, and, depending on the rules of the game being played, may be bought (See "Passing
and Byeing" below.) later in that game.
Opening the Game
Determine who will make the first play, as explained above in "Order of Play" and according to the rules
of the particular domino game being played. The player making the first play may be referred to as the
setter, the downer, or the leader. He should place his tile face up in the middle of the table.
The words set, down, and lead are all used as verbs to refer to the act of making the first play of the
game. "The set," "the down," and "the lead" are used as nouns to refer to the first domino played in a
game and also the first play of the game.
Here is a rule variation that players may agree to employ: Anytime a player plays a double, whether for
the opening of the game or anytime thereafter during the game, he may immediately play a second tile
onto his double before the next player makes his play.
Passing and Byeing
Any player who does not hold a tile in his hand with the correct number of pips, and therefore cannot
make the next play, must either pass or bye from the stock, according to the rules of the game. Some
games permit players to skip a play if they so choose, even if they hold a playable tile.
Passing is also called knocking and renouncing. The player who is unable to make a play must announce
to the other players, "I pass," and then the next player takes his turn. If no one is able to make a play,
the game ends.
In some games byeing tiles from the stock is allowed. In this case, a player draws the number of tiles he
is permitted to take according to the rules of that game, adding them to the tiles he is holding in his
hand. Once the player has drawn a tile he is able to play, he plays that domino.
There are many domino games that have the rule that all tiles in the stock may be bought, and there are
others which have the rule that some tiles must be left in the stock and can not be bought. In the case of
the latter, the number of pips on the tiles left in the stock at the end of the game would be added to the
winner's score.
Line of Play