How to Play Cuban Dominoes

The game of dominoes is the national game of Cuba. In Cuba, you will see people frequently playing Cuban Dominoes in public areas. Cuban Dominoes is also played in Cuban centers in America. The following will show you how to play this unique game of dominoes.

Things You'll Need

• A set of 55 double-nine dominoes
• 4 players in 2 teams

Instructions

1. Ask each player to draw 10 tiles from the boneyard. Place the remaining 15 tiles to the side, as they will not be part of this game.

2. Lay down the first domino if you have the highest double in your hand. If no one is holding a double, start over and re-deal the hand. Go around the circle to the left--or clockwise--as you play.

3. Play in teams taking turns as you place tiles in the game matching pips on one end of a played tile with one end of a tile in your hand, forming a train of dominoes.

4. Shout "Domino!" if you run out of dominoes in your hand which ends the game or end the game when no more moves can be made.

5. Count up the number of pips on the tiles left in each player's hand. The team that holds the lowest number of pips in their hand is the winner.

Tips & Warnings

• Doubles are not played as spinners in this game (you cannot play four sides on the first double played).

• Look for tournaments and weekly games played at Cuban centers in major cities across the United States, such as the Cuban Chamber of Commerce in Chicago.