Allgood Software proudly presents...

Dominoes 2.0

April 8th, 2002


Welcome to the newest version of Dominoes! The game of Dominoes has been played all over the world for hundreds of years. Believed to have originated from China in the 1100's, and brought to Europe several hundred years later. Since then, many different variations have evolved, all using the same basic tiles. You can use this software to play 11 different variations of Dominoes, from the basic Draw and Block games, up to the more eclectic Matador, and Mexican Train. If you are a player of our earlier Dominoes v1.2, you should notice many changes and improvements.

Please Note: Dominoes v2.0 is Shareware. Please evaluate the software to see if you like it. If you decide to keep it, please register your copy by paying the $19.95 shareware fee. Only Draw and Muggins are available in the unregistered version - paying the registration fee will give you access to the other games.


Getting Started

To start playing, just hit the New Game button, or to make a different game selection, choose it from the Games menu.

To play a tile, simply click on the tile you want to play, and drag it (while holding the mouse button down) over to the space you wish to play it. Spaces that are available are clearly marked. (If you don't like "Drag and Drop", you have the "Sticky Mouse" option, please see below for more details). You are only able to play a domino to the field, if one of it's ends matches an exposed end of one of the chains - if the last number on a chain is a 6, you may play any tile that has a 6, in the space next to it.

When the chains get too long to fit on screen, they are scrunched down, and dominoes towards the center are no longer visible. They are still there, though, you can always see a list of currently played dominoes in the "Used Dominoes" window.

In certain games, the first double played becomes a "Spinner", meaning that tiles may be added to the top and bottom, as well as the left and right of it. When a spinner is played, it is automatically moved to the center of the table. (Please note, the left and right sides of a spinner must be started, before you can play tiles to the top or bottom)


Game Settings

For each game, there are a number of parameters detailing how the game is to be played. These include options to control how each round is to be lead, how long the game should be, and which domino set to use (double 6, or double 9). To change these settings, select "Game Settings..." from the "Games" menu. In this dialog, you can adjust all of these options, by just clicking on appropriate choice. The different ways to decide who leads the next round are: Note: Because "Take Turns", and "Player who Dominoed", rely on how the last round ended, the very first round is lead by the player with the Heaviest Double.


Player Settings

You can play against up to 3 computer players. To change the opponents you wish to face, select "Player Settings..." from the "Games" menu. In this dialog you will be able to choose the number of opponents, as well as their skill level, names and voice box style. All computer opponents will play at the same skill level.


Extras

But wait, there's more! Over on the "Options" menu, you'll find a couple of ways to customize and enrich your Dominoes experience.
Under the "Games" menu, can be found a summary of the rules for the current game, just select "Game Rules...".


Auxillary Windows

As well as the main window, there are two other windows to help you play. The "Scores" window shows your current progress towards the goal score, as compared to the others you are playing against. The "Used Dominoes" window shows all the dominoes that have currently been played on the playing field (quite useful when chains get long, and not all dominoes are visible). Their are two display modes for each of these windows, and clicking in them will toggle the display mode.


The Games

Domino games come in several flavours, Blocking and Scoring. The two types are listed here, as well as the games in this software that fall into each category. In each game, if the game is Jammed, the player(s) with the lowest pips get a score equal to the total of all the pips in all hands.

Blocking Games

Blocking games involve trying to get rid of all the tiles in your hands as fast as possible, trying to block your opponent from doing the same. Points are earned by going "Domino", and collecting a point for each pip held in other player's hands. In some games, if you cannot play a tile to the field, you must draw tiles from the boneyard. Here are the Blocking games you can play:

Block

Pretty much the simplest Domino game there is. Take turns playing a domino to the field. If you cannot play a tile, you must pass that turn, giving the other players another chance to get rid of their tiles. First player to get rid of their tiles (go Domino!) gets a score equal to the sum of pips in everyone else's hand.

Draw

Exactly the same game as "Block", above, with one exception. If you cannot play a tile, you must draw tiles from the boneyard until you are able to make a play. Only if the boneyard is empty, do you pass your turn. You may lead any bone you wish, the first double played becomes a spinner.

Matador

One of the stranger games I've encountered. Instead of matching ends (i.e. a 6's on 6's), you play dominoes by creating sums of 7. That is, only a bone with a 1: can be played on an end with a 6 exposed. (6+1=7). Any tile whose ends add up to 7 (i.e. [5:2] [4:3]...) and the [0:0] tile, are "Matadors", and are wild. They may be played on any chain, regardless of what value is exposed. On a Matador, you may play a domino that matches either end of the matador, including the [0:0]. If you are unable to make a play, you must draw from the boneyard until you can. You may lead any bone you want. When playing with the [9:9] set, match bones that add to 10, and the matadors are those whose ends add to 10.

Doubles

A fun game, and one of the meanest there is. This game is played just like the "Draw" game, with the following exception: Before a value is matched, the double of that value must have already been played. For example, if a 2 is exposed on one end, you may not play a tile on that space, unless the double 2 is already on the field somewhere. If you can't play, you must draw from the boneyard until you can. The first bone played must be a double, and is a spinner.

Cross

Cross is just like the game of "Draw", except that all 4 chains must be started from the lead double, before any other plays are allowed. (this immediately forms a cross shape, which is where the game gets its name). If you cannot play, you must draw bones until you can. The first bone played must be a double, and is a spinner.

Tiddle A Wink

Tiddle A Wink is the game of Draw, but when a player plays a double, they immediately get another turn.

Mexican Train

In this game, each player gets their own personal chain, or "train", on which to play on. Other players may not play on your train, unless you have passed your turn. In addition to the personal trains, there is the "Mexican Train", upon which any player may play bones at any time. If, during a turn, you cannot play a tile on your train, the Mexican train, or any other player's trains which are available, you must draw a tile. If you cannot play that tile, you must pass, which, unfortunately, will allow other players to start playing onto your train. As soon as you play a domino on your own train, your train becomes exclusive again, other players can no longer use it. When a player plays a double, they immediately get another turn. However, Doubles may not be left open, they must be covered at once. All play on other trains stops until some player is able to play a tile on that double. (unless the double was the last domino in the player's hand, in which case, it is Domino! as usual)

There are 10 rounds to Mexican train, each one started by a different double, starting at the 9:9, and down one by one to the 0:0. Whoever has the highest score at the end of the 10 rounds, is the winner.

Personal trains are the chains headed towards that player (i.e. your personal train is always the one being built downwards). The Mexican train is the one being built away from other players (and in the case of 4 players, being built to the right, below and to the right of the spinner/engine). An extra panel is provided above your hand, so that you can arrange your tiles in order. To use, just drag tiles in and out of the spaces as you would on the playing field.


Scoring Games

Scoring games are ones in which points can be scored during play, in addition to going "Domino". Frequently, you can get more points in play, than by going domino, so clearing your hand is not quite as important.

Muggins

Players who've tried Dominoes v1.2 will be familiar with this game. If you play a domino that brings the field total (the sum of all the exposed ends of the chains, doubles counting twice), to a multiple of 5, you get that many points added to your score. Turn on score hints to see how that score is calculated. If you are unable to play a bone, you must keep drawing bones from the boneyard until you can. The player who goes Domino!, gets a score equal to the sum of all the pips remaining in the other player's hands, rounded to the nearest multiple of 5. Note, you are not allowed to draw from the boneyard, if you already hold a playable bone (so no fishing for scoring bones!)

All Three's

This game is exactly like Muggins, except that points are scored by making the field value a multiple of Three. On going domino, the pip count is rounded to the nearest multiple of Three.

3's and 5's

In the same vein as the previous two games, points are scored by making the field value a multiple of Three or Five. If you make the field value a number which is a multiple of both Three and Five, you score Double. For example, if you were able to bring the field score to 15, you would score 30 points!

Bergen

Bergen employs a very simple scoring system. If you play a domino such that the open end of each chain match eachother, that is called a "Double Header", and is worth 2 points for you. If one of the open ends is a double, that's a "Triple Header", and is worth 3 points. If not able to play, you draw tiles from the boneyard until you can. Player who goes domino get's a flat 2 points, regardless of the pips still held by other players. The first domino played must be a double, and must be played on both sides before further plays may occur.


License

Dominoes v2.0 is a Shareware product. Please evaluate it, and if you decide to keep it, please register your copy by paying the $19.95 shareware fee. Kagi handles all registrations for Dominoes, and they accept payments online, by email or by postal mail. Thanks for your support.


Glossary of Domino Terms

Bone Another word for a Domino. (In the past, Domino Tiles were often made of bone)
Boneyard After the hands are dealt out, in some games the spare tiles are kept aside to form the "Boneyard". If you cannot play a tile from your hand, you add tiles from the boneyard to your hand, until you can play.
(Going) Domino! Playing the last tile from your hand, forcing other players to count up and give you points.
Double A domino tile that has the same number at each end.
Double Header In Bergen, when both open ends match. Worth 2 points.
Heaviest The domino that has the largest "weight", or total count of pips on both ends. If two dominos have the same weight, the heaviest, is the one with the largest suit on it, i.e. the [6:4] is heavier than the [5:5].
Jam (Jamming) When no player can play a tile, or go to the bonyeard, the round is "jammed".
Lead The first domino played in the round.
Long Ends The two wider sides of a domino.
Matador In the game of Matador, a tile whose ends add up to 7 in the [6:6] set, (or 10 in the [9:9] set) and is therefore "wild". These tiles can be played anywhere, anytime, and any domino that can match either end may be played after it.
Pip The dots that form the numbers on a domino tile
Pulling "bogus" Trying to draw a tile from the boneyard, when you already hold a playable tile in your hand. (This not allowed in any of the Scoring Games)
Short Ends The two narrower sides of a domino.
Spinner A double that can be played on from all four sides.
Stalemate When no player can play a tile, or go to the bonyeard. Also known as a "Jam"
Tile Another name for a domino.
Triple Header In Bergen, when both open ends match, and one of them is a double. Counts as 3 points.
Weight A dominoes "weight" is the sum of the number of pips on both ends of a domino. i.e. the weight of the [6:4] tile is 6+4=10.


Mike Perry
trick@allgoodsw.com