Dominoes

Why dominoes is wonderful after 50

Dominoes is one of the most rewarding games to enjoy after 50. Every hand keeps your mind busy counting pips, matching ends, and planning your next move, which is wonderful gentle exercise for memory and focus. It is a deeply social game too, built around a table full of friends or family and plenty of friendly talk. The tiles themselves are a pleasure, smooth and satisfying to handle and shuffle. And it is a true classic gathering game, easy for grandchildren and lifelong friends alike, so a simple box of dominoes turns any afternoon into good company.

Your first month, week by week

Common mistakes to avoid

• Playing without a plan; look at the open ends and think one or two moves ahead before you set a tile down.
• Forgetting to count; keep track of how many pips are still in your hand and which numbers have already been played.
• Holding your heavy tiles too long; if a round may end soon, play your high double-six and other big tiles early so you are not caught with them.
• Not blocking your opponents; when you can, leave the open ends on numbers you know they cannot match.
• Playing your doubles too late; doubles can be hard to get rid of, so look for chances to place them while the board is still open.
• Ignoring the boneyard; remember which tiles are still undrawn, because it hints at what your opponents may be missing.

Words you'll hear

Bone (tile)

Another name for a single domino piece; each one shows two numbers, one on each half.

Boneyard

The pile of face-down tiles left over after the deal, which players draw from when they cannot make a move.

Double

A tile with the same number on both halves, such as the double-six; doubles are often placed crosswise on the line.

Pip

One of the dots on a domino; the pips are what you count for matching ends and for scoring.

Train

A line of matching tiles built out from the center, as in Mexican Train, where each player grows their own train.

Block game

The classic, simplest form of dominoes, where you match ends and the round ends when someone plays out or the game is blocked.

Where to find your people

• Senior centers, which often host regular domino afternoons and welcome newcomers.
• Local domino clubs and leagues, where you can find regular partners and friendly competition.
• Community halls, churches, and libraries that run casual game nights open to all.
• Online domino apps, where you can play and chat with people any time of day from home.
• Family game nights, where dominoes is an easy game to teach children and grandchildren.