What is Spinner Dominoes?
Spinner Dominoes is a unique take on the classic game of dominoes, with a slight twist to the typical rule-set. Spinner Dominoes include “spinner” tiles, which act as wild cards, which can serve as a substitute for any other tile.
How to Play Spinner Dominoes?
The Spinner Dominoes game is designed to be played by 2-8 players. All you need to play this game is a Spinner dominoes set. This is a usual set of double-nine dominoes, with the main difference being the inclusion of spinner tiles, and half-spinner tiles. These tiles are denoted with spirals.
Pre-game
Before each round starts, all tiles are placed face-down on the board, and shuffled.
Each player then draws 7 tiles each, and places them in such a way that their tiles are obscured from the view of other players.
The remaining tiles now form the draw pile, which will be used during gameplay.
Gameplay
In the following examples, we will be focusing on the 2-player variant of Spinner Dominoes.
To start, the first tile needs to be placed down. This must be a double-nine tile or a double-spinner tile. If neither player has this tile, they will take turns drawing from the draw pile until one player manages to play the starting tile.
The main gameplay is done as shown in the Example Play section of the guide.
If no available move can be made from hand, the player will be required to draw from the draw pile. They continue drawing until a move can be made.
How to Win
The goal in Spinner Dominoes is to clear all tiles from hand. Once this is done, both players’ hands are scored.
Rules
The Spinner Dominoes rules are:
- If a double is placed, the “chicken-foot” shape must be completed before other moves can be made.
- If no moves can be made from hand, a player must continuously draw until a move can be made.
- If a double-spinner is placed, players must make the “chicken-foot” shape using matching spinners or the number that the spinner is substituting.
Scoring
Spinner Dominoes scoring is done based on the remaining tiles in hand at the end of each round.
Each tile’s point value is the number of dots on the tile. Each spinner has a value of 10.
Since the winning player has no tiles left, they score 0. The losing player is scored accordingly, assuming they have the following hand, they are scored 7 points.
At the end of 10 rounds, the player with the highest score loses the game.
Scores can be recorded in a score sheet.
Example Play
Each tile can only be connected if at least one side matches the side of the previously placed tile. For example:
Note that 5 and 5 are connected.
For double tiles, apart from the initially placed double-nine/double-spinner tile, will need to be arranged in such a manner.
Note that this specific shape must be completed for each placed double tile before any other moves can be made. This rule applies even if there are other available moves on the board. For example, in the same picture, one might think to match a tile to the 6 on the left, but that cannot be done until the “chicken-foot” shape is completed.
Strategy & Tips
- The key in Spinner Dominoes strategy is to play spinners as you get them. The penalty for having them in hand is too great.
- Play out larger valued tiles first, as they penalize you for losing.
- Play chicken-foot shapes to potentially block your opponent.
- Know when you can play special shapes without harming yourself.
- While it is hard to count in double-nine domino sets, try to keep the potential remaining tiles in mind.
- Think moves ahead to prevent locking yourself out of moves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Spinner Dominoes Deluxe Edition?
The Spinner Dominoes Deluxe Edition is a classic version of the game released in the 1980s, and is coveted for its wooden tiles and high quality.
Can I play Spinner Dominoes Online for free?
No, unfortunately there are no available simulators for Spinner Dominoes online, so you will need to find a set to play it.
How many tiles does each player start with?
Each player begins the game with 7 tiles each. There are variations which recommend that players begin with 14 tiles each in 2-player games.
How many tiles are there in Spinner Dominoes?
In Spinner Dominoes, there are a total of 66 tiles, consisting of a full double-nine domino set, along with the extra 11 spinner tiles.
