Learn dominoes
Glossary
Every table word from the lessons, in one place. Tap a lesson to see it in action.
- Block game
- The version where you pass when you can't play, instead of drawing. Most Latin American and partner tables play it.
- Learn it in: How a turn works
- Blocked game (tranque)
- A hand where nobody can play. Everyone counts their pips, and the lowest count wins.
- Learn it in: When the game blocks
- Blocker
- The player who made the last play, the one that closed a blocked game.
- Learn it in: When the game blocks
- Boneyard
- The leftover tiles, face down on the side, when fewer than four play. In the draw game you take from it when you can't play.
- Learn it in: The tiles
- Capicú
- Going out with a tile that would have fit on either open end, when the two ends show different numbers (some tables count it either way). Many families give a bonus for it.
- Learn it in: How scoring works
- Chuchazo
- Going out with the double-blank (the chucha). Puerto Rican tables often give a bonus for it, like 100 in a game to 500.
- Learn it in: How scoring works
- Dealer
- In Mexican Train, the player who mixes the tiles for the round; the player on their left goes first.
- Learn it in: Mexican Train
- Double
- A tile with the same number on both ends, like the 5-5. It's set crosswise in the line.
- Learn it in: The tiles
- Double-twelve set
- A bigger set of 91 tiles, with ends from 0 to 12. Mexican Train uses it.
- Learn it in: Mexican Train
- Draw game
- The version where you take tiles from the boneyard until you can play, and only pass once it's empty.
- Learn it in: How a turn works
- Engine
- In Mexican Train, the double in the middle of the table that every train starts from. It changes each round.
- Learn it in: Mexican Train
- Going out
- Playing your last tile. It ends the hand, and you (or your team) score.
- Learn it in: How a turn works
- Hand
- Two meanings: the tiles you're holding (“your hand”), and one round of play, from the deal until someone goes out or the game blocks (“the hand is over”).
- Learn it in: Your first hand
- Lead (la salida)
- The first tile of a hand. In partner games, it tells your partner which number you're strong in.
- Learn it in: Winning partner play
- Marker
- In Mexican Train, a sign on your train that you couldn't play. Anyone can play on a train with a marker.
- Learn it in: Mexican Train
- Mexican Train
- A game for two to eight players with a double-twelve set, 13 rounds, where the lowest total wins. Also the name of the shared train everyone can play on.
- Learn it in: Mexican Train
- Open end
- Either end of the line of play. Your tile has to match one of them.
- Learn it in: How a turn works
- Pase de salida
- The next player can't play on the first tile of the hand. Some tables, especially Dominican ones, give the leader a bonus, often 25.
- Learn it in: How scoring works
- Pase redondo
- You play, and all three other players pass, your partner included. Many Caribbean tables give a bonus, often 25. Also called pase corrido.
- Learn it in: How scoring works
- Paso
- “I pass.” Say it when nothing in your hand matches either open end. It tells the table you're out of those numbers.
- Learn it in: How a turn works
- Pips
- The dots on a tile. A blank end counts as zero, and the pips left in hands are the points.
- Learn it in: The tiles
- Pollona (zapatero)
- Winning the game while the other side still has zero points. Dominican, Cuban and Venezuelan players say zapatero. Expect some friendly teasing.
- Learn it in: How scoring works
- Premios
- In a Puerto Rican game to 500, extra points for winning the first four hands: 100, 75, 50 and 25.
- Learn it in: How scoring works
- Spinner
- In All Fives, a double that can be played on all four sides, so there can be four open ends.
- Learn it in: All Fives
- Tapar
- To cover a number by playing over it. Cover the other team's number, never your partner's.
- Learn it in: Playing with a partner
- Target score
- The score that wins the game, like 100, 150 or 500. Keep playing hands until someone reaches it.
- Learn it in: How scoring works