Spanish for a blocked game. Some say trancado. It's when nobody can play.

Who wins a blocked domino game?

The player with the fewest pips in hand. At most tables they score the pips left in the other hands; in partners, the lower team often takes every pip left, its own included. If the lowest counts tie, most tables give no points and deal a new hand.

In partners, does each player count alone?

Most tables add the two partners' hands together and compare team totals. Some give the hand to the team of the single lowest player, and some Dominican tables compare only the blocker and the next player. Agree before you start, and set the same rule in Pipside.

Can a two-player game block?

In the draw game, only after the boneyard is empty. In the block game it can happen sooner, because the boneyard tiles stay out of play.

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Domino rules

Blocked domino game: who wins a tranque?

A blocked game, or tranque, is when nobody at the table can play. Everyone turns their tiles over, counts their pips, and the lowest hand wins (in partners, usually the team with the lower combined count). Here's how to spot one, who wins it and how to score it.

When is the game blocked?

The game is blocked when no tile left in anyone's hand matches either open end. The classic case: both ends show the same number, and all seven tiles with that number are already on the table.

Both ends show 5…

…and all seven fives have been played. Nobody can play.

In the draw game, the game can only block once the boneyard is empty.

Who wins a blocked game?

1Everyone turns their tiles face up.
2Each player counts their own pips (with partners, see below for how teams compare).
3The lowest count wins the hand.

Who wins a tranque in partners?

With two teams, most tables count a blocked hand in one of three ways. Team totals is the most common, and it's how Pipside starts. This is separate from what the winners score (the When the game blocks setting).

Team totals (the most common: Puerto Rico, clubs and tournaments): add both partners' pips. The team with fewer wins.
Lowest single player (many Cuban, Dominican and US home tables): the one player with the fewest pips wins it for their team.
Blocker against the next player (many Dominican tables): only two hands count, the player who made the last play (the blocker) and the player after them. Fewer pips wins.

Example: you have 3 and your partner 14 (17), while the other team has 9 and 9 (18). By team totals, your 17 beats their 18. By lowest single player, your 3 wins it too. But if an opponent holding 9 blocked it and your partner plays next, it's 9 against 14, and the other team wins.

Blocking on purpose

If you're sure your hand is lighter than everyone else's, closing the game can win it for you. Count the tiles first: a tranque with a heavy hand hands the points to someone else.

Keep score with Pipside

Free, no ads, no download. Tap the tiles left in each hand and Pipside adds up the pips.

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Common questions

What is a tranque?: Spanish for a blocked game. Some say trancado. It's when nobody can play.
Who wins a blocked domino game?: The player with the fewest pips in hand. At most tables they score the pips left in the other hands; in partners, the lower team often takes every pip left, its own included. If the lowest counts tie, most tables give no points and deal a new hand.
In partners, does each player count alone?: Most tables add the two partners' hands together and compare team totals. Some give the hand to the team of the single lowest player, and some Dominican tables compare only the blocker and the next player. Agree before you start, and set the same rule in Pipside.
Can a two-player game block?: In the draw game, only after the boneyard is empty. In the block game it can happen sooner, because the boneyard tiles stay out of play.

Where these rules come from

Tables play differently. These are the most widely documented rules we checked against.