Cyprus Domino Rules

How To Play Cyprus Dominoes

Number Of Players: 4 to 10
Domino Set Required: Double-Nine

Cyprus is related to Sebastopol, but uses a double-nine set of dominoes.

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:

4 players draw 9 tiles each
5 players draw 8 tiles each
6 players draw 7 tiles each
7 players draw 7 tiles each
8 players draw 6 tiles each
9 players draw 6 tiles each
10 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 holding the double-nine places the first domino. If no one has the 9-9, all players draw a tile, until the 9-9 appears. Play proceeds to the left (clockwise). Each player adds a domino to an open end of the layout, if he can. The four edges of the double-nine, as well as the four diagonals, must be filled before any other tiles may be layed down. If a player cannot connect to the 9-9, he must draw a tile, then play it if possible, or pass if not.

Once the initial 9 tiles are set, play continues as in standard Block Dominoes, with like-numbered tiles connecting. Doubles are played inline.

A player that cannot make a move must draw a tile from the boneyard. He must play the drawn tile if he can, or pass if he cannot.

Ending A Hand

A hand ends either when a player plays all his tiles, or when a game is blocked, at which time the lightest hand wins total of his opponents points, minus any points in his own hand.

Winning A Game

A game is generally played to 60, 100, or whatever total is agree upon before the game begins.

Variations

Pagat.com calls for leaving at least one tile in the boneyard.