Dominoes is a great game to play with the family, or when entertaining friends. The premise is simple, but the game can get complex and challenging once you learn how to use strategy. To learn how to play dominoes, just read through this guide.

Dominoes is a game played with tiles. Each end of the tile has a number from one to six, represented by dots. In this basic version of the game, the object is to place matching numbers next to each other in such a way that the sum of the numbers at the ends of the chain equal a multiple of five. A full explanation of these rules is below.

1. Clear a space on a large table or the floor
2. Remove dominoes from box, and place face-down
3. Shuffle the dominoes by mixing them around, without flipping any over

1. Each player should grab an odd number of dominoes -- 7 dominoes will work for 2 to 3 players, 5 for 4 or 5 players
2. Players should stand their dominoes on the sides, so that no other players can see the numbers
3. The unclaimed dominoes should be moved to the side -- they are now the "boneyard"
4. The player with the highest double goes first (double sixes will always start if a player has them)
5. The first domino gets laid down in the center of the space
6. The next player must lay down a domino on the long side of the one just played, at the center between the two numbered sides. The side facing the original domino must be the same number (for example, you could lay down a 6-4 domino next to the double sixes)
7. The next player may play off of the other long side of the first domino, or on the other end of the domino just laid down, depending on what numbers he/she has in her/his hand
8. Once both long sides of the original domino have been played off of, you may go off the other ends until all four have been used
9. Doubles must always be laid down sideways, but you can only play off of all four ends of the starting domino (only go off of the centers between the two numbers for the rest)
10. If you cannot play any of your dominoes, you must draw from the boneyard until you are able to make a move

1. You may only score if all open ends of the dominoes equal a multiple of five
2. Your score is then the total of all ends
3. Doubles on the ends equal the sum of both sides (so a double five would be scored as ten)
4. Once one player has run out of dominoes he or she has won that round and the game has ended
5. The players with dominoes left must give the winning player the total point value of all that is left in their hand -- so it can be wise to get rid of the bigger dominoes of someone is on their way out
6. Scores carry over to the next game, until an agreed-upon point total has been reached. 300 or 500 points is a common goal.