Bergen Domino Rules

How To Play Bergen Dominoes

Number Of Players: 2 to 4
Domino Set Required: Normally uses a double-six set, but larger sets may support more players

Bergen plays much like The Draw Game, except that the principal object of the game is to score points, by getting the same suit at both ends of the layout.

Setup

After shuffling the dominoes, each player draws tiles to make up their hand. The number of tiles drawn depends on the number of players:

2 players draw 6 tiles each
3 players draw 6 tiles each
4 players draw 5 tiles each

The remainder of the tiles make up the boneyard (or "stock"), and are held in or reserve to be drawn upon at need.

Gameplay

The player with the highest double places the first domino. Play proceeds to the left (clockwise). Each player adds a domino to an open end of the layout, if he can.

In the illustration to the right, a double-six started the game, scoring 2 points in the process. A 6-2 and 6-4 were then played on either side of the 6-6, neither placement earning any points. The 4-2 was then connected to the open four, leaving an open 2 both on the left and right, thus earning 2 points. This is called a double-header. A 2-2 was then played onto the open 2 on the right. This scored three points, and is referred to as a triple-header.

Drawing Tiles

If a player is unable to make a move, he must draw dominoes from the boneyard until he can make a move. If there are no dominoes left, then the player must pass.

Ending A Hand

A hand ends either when a player plays all his tiles, or when a game is blocked. A game is blocked when no player is able to add another tile to the layout.

Scoring

When a hand ends, the player with the lightest hand (i.e. the fewest number of dots on their dominoes) wins one point, in addition to whatever points were won during the hand.

A game of Bergen Dominoes is typically played to a score of 15 points.

Variations

Rather than allowing an unlimited number of tiles to be drawn from the boneyard, a player may only draw one tile per turn. The tile may be played if possible, or control is plassed to the next player if not.
The boneyard may not be drawn dry, but must always retain at least two tiles.
If played with larger sets, the initial double may be a spinned (played off on all four edges).