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
- 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. Many families give a bonus for it.
- Learn it in: How scoring works
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- Finishing a game with zero points. Expect some friendly teasing.
- 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