Scoring is a crucial part of the game of dominoes, as it determines the winner and tracks the progress of the game. Keeping score properly ensures that the game is fair and enjoyable for all players. In dominoes, the objective is to be the first player or team to get rid of all their dominoes.
One popular method of keeping score in dominoes is to use paper. This method is simple and effective, and it provides a convenient way to track the scores of all players. The paper can be any size or shape, but it should be large enough to accommodate all of the players’ names and scores.
To start, each player or team should be assigned a row or column on the paper. The player’s name should be written at the top of the row or column, and their score should be written below. As the game progresses, the players’ scores will change. The player or team that reaches a certain predetermined score first wins the game.
Essential Principles of Scoring
Understanding the Basic Unit: The Trick
A trick in dominoes is a hand played by one player, consisting of one or more dominoes. The primary scoring unit revolves around the total number of pips exposed on the ends of all dominoes played in a trick. Pips are the dots or numbers on eachdomino face. The player or team with the lowest total pip count in their trick earns points based on the difference between their score and the opponent’s score.
Calculating the Score
- Count the number of pips on the exposed ends of all dominoes played in a trick.
- Subtract the lower pip count from the higher pip count.
- The difference in pip count represents the points awarded to the player or team with the lower pip count.
Example:
Player A plays a domino with a pip count of 5 on one end and 3 on the other (5-3=2). Player B plays a domino with a pip count of 4 on both ends (4-4=0). Player A’s trick has a pip count of 2, while Player B’s trick has a pip count of 0. Player A earns 2 points (2-0=2).
Other Scoring Considerations
- Blocked Tricks: If neither player can play a domino on their turn, the trick is blocked. The player who blocked the trick earns no points.
- Draw from the Boneyard: If a player cannot play a domino, they must draw a domino from the boneyard (the pile of unused dominoes). If they still cannot play, they lose their turn.
- Domino Shutdown: If a player plays a domino that matches both ends of the layout, the game is considered "shut down" and the player earns extra points for closing the game.
Recording the Opening Bid
The first step in keeping score in dominoes is to record the opening bid. The opening bid is the number of points that the player who has the first turn bids to score in that round. The bid is recorded in the first column of the score sheet. To the right of the bid, write the name of the player who made the bid. For example, if Player A bids 10 points, the score sheet would look like this:
| Opening Bid | Player |
|---|---|
| 10 | Player A |
If the player who makes the opening bid is successful in scoring the number of points they bid, they are said to have “made their bid.” If they fail to score the number of points they bid, they are said to have “missed their bid.”
If a player misses their bid, they are penalized by the number of points that they bid. The penalty is recorded in the “Penalty” column of the score sheet. To the right of the penalty, write the name of the player who missed their bid. For example, if Player A misses their bid of 10 points, the score sheet would look like this:
| Opening Bid | Player | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Player A | 10 |
Determining the Winning Hand
To determine the winning hand in Dominoes, follow these steps:
- Sum the pips on each player’s remaining dominoes: Calculate the total number of pips on the dominoes that a player has not yet played.
- Identify the player with the lowest total: The player with the lowest total is the winner.
- If there is a tie: The player who played the last domino wins.
- If both players have played out all of their dominoes: The game is a draw.
- Scoring in Detail:
Score Number of Pips 0 0-12 1 13-24 2 25-36 3 37-48 4 49-59 5 60-70 6 71-80 7 81-90 8 91-100 9 101-110 10 111-120 11 121-130 12 131-140 13 141-150 14 151-160 15 161-170 16 171-180 17 181-190 18 191-200 19 201-210 20 211-220
Scoring Empty Hands
When a player goes out, meaning they have played all the dominoes in their hand, they score points based on the total number of pips remaining in the hands of their opponents. The pips are the dots on the dominoes, and they are counted to determine the score. A player can score multiple hands in a single game.
First Empty Hand
If a player is the first to go out, they score a bonus of 50 points.
Subsequent Empty Hands
If a player goes out after another player has already gone out, they score the total number of pips remaining in their opponents’ hands.
Double Empty Hands
If a player goes out and their opponents also go out in the same round, the player who went out first scores double the total number of pips remaining in their opponents’ hands. This is known as “toddy” or “double shutout.” Additionally, if a player goes out in the first round of the game, they score double the total number of pips remaining in their opponents’ hands, even if another player has already gone out.
Shipment
If a player goes out with a “shipment,” which means they have played all the dominoes in their hand except for the double zero, they receive a bonus of 10 points.
Blocking
If a player is able to block their opponents from going out, they score the total number of pips remaining in their opponents’ hands. This is known as “blocking” or “boxing out.”
Handling Fouls and Missed Bids
Dominoes games can involve fouls and missed bids. Here’s how to handle such situations:
Fouls
A foul occurs when a player makes an illegal move, such as playing a domino that does not match the end of the line. If a foul is committed, the player who made the foul loses their turn and their domino is placed aside.
Missed Bids
A missed bid occurs when a player bids incorrectly. If a player bids incorrectly, they lose points equal to the amount they overbid by. For example, if a player bids 60 points but scores only 55, they lose 5 points.
Double-Faking
Double-faking is a special type of missed bid that involves bidding twice on the same number. If a player double-fakes, they lose all of the points they have accumulated so far in the round.
Additional Details on Double-Faking
The following table provides additional details on double-faking:
| Situation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Player double-fakes during the opening round | Player loses 200 points |
| Player double-fakes during a subsequent round | Player loses all accumulated points in the round |
Calculating the Final Score
Once all the rounds have been played, it’s time to calculate the final score. The total score for each player or team is determined by subtracting the sum of their unplayed dominoes from the total number of dominoes available in the set. The set typically consists of 28 dominoes, so the total number of points available is 140.
Unplayed Dominoes
Unplayed dominoes are the ones that are still in the player’s or team’s hand at the end of the game. To calculate the sum of these unplayed dominoes, multiply the number of pips on each domino by its quantity and add the results together. For example, if a player has three dominoes with 1 pip, two dominoes with 2 pips, and one domino with 5 pips, the sum of their unplayed dominoes would be:
| Domino | Quantity | Pip Count | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 2-2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 5-5 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 12 | ||
It’s important to note that the sum of the unplayed dominoes can never exceed the total number of points available in the set (140). If the sum exceeds 140, you have made an error in your calculations or there are unplayed dominoes that are not counted.
How To Keep Score In Dominoes On Paper
Dominoes is a classic game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a simple game to learn, but there are a few different ways to keep score. One of the most common ways to keep score is on paper.
To keep score on paper, you will need a piece of paper and a pencil. You will also need to know the number of players in the game. To begin, draw a table on the paper with one column for each player. The first column should be labeled “Player Name”. The remaining columns should be labeled “Round 1”, “Round 2”, and so on.
Once you have drawn the table, you can begin keeping score. To score a round, simply add up the number of pips on the dominoes that each player has played. The player with the lowest score wins the round. You can also keep track of the total number of points that each player has scored throughout the game.
People Also Ask About How To Keep Score In Dominoes On Paper
What is the best way to keep score in dominoes?
There are a few different ways to keep score in dominoes, but the most common way is on paper. To keep score on paper, you will need a piece of paper and a pencil. You will also need to know the number of players in the game.
How do you score a round in dominoes?
To score a round in dominoes, simply add up the number of pips on the dominoes that each player has played. The player with the lowest score wins the round.
How do you keep track of the total score in dominoes?
You can keep track of the total score in dominoes by adding up the number of points that each player has scored throughout the game. The player with the lowest total score at the end of the game wins.
