ChickenFoot
ChickenFoot Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chickenfoot
Chickenfoot can be played with various size domino sets (double-9, double-12).
Number of players: 2 or more.
Object of the game: Rid yourself of as many dominoes as possible during each round, to get the lowest total score at the end of all rounds.
Preparation: Place the highest double domino on the table in the centerpiece included in the set. Turn the rest of the dominoes face down and shuffle them. Each player draws an equal number of tiles. This number will vary, depending on the domino set used and the number of players (Diagram 1).
Number of tiles drawn at the beginning of each round (Diagram 1):
| Domino Set | Number of Players: 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOUBLE 9 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 7 | X | X |
| DOUBLE 12 | X | X | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
(X = that set is not used for that number of players.)
Keep your dominoes concealed from other players. Gather the remaining dominoes into a boneyard which will be used for draws during play.
Starting: Designate a player to start the game. Thereafter, rotate the starter of each round in clockwise order.
Forming the double Chickenfoot: Once the first double has been placed in the centerpiece, the next 6 plays must be made on that initial tile, 1 tile played sideways (at right angle) and 2 played diagonally, on each side of the set tile, for a total of 6 tiles forming the Double Chickenfoot (Diagram 2).
(Diagram 2 shows the set double in the centre with six tiles around it: two tiles played sideways at right angles, and four tiles played diagonally, two on each side of the set tile.)
- For example, if the first double is a double-9, players must match a tile from his/her hand of the 9 suit (number) to the double-9 set tile. A player must always play if there is a playable (end-matching) tile. If all 6 tiles have not been played on the double-9 set, and a player does not hold a tile from the 9 suit in his/her hand, that player must draw a single tile from the boneyard.
- If the player draws a tile with a 9 end, it is played at once on the set tile, the turn is over and the next player's turn begins.
- If the player does not draw a tile from the 9 suit, play must pass to the player to the left.
- After all 6 tiles have been played on the double-9 set tile, plays can be made on any of the 6 Chickentoes by matching tiles end to end, until someone plays another double tile.
Chickentoes – Tiles played on a double tile are called "Chickentoes." A double Chickenfoot and a Chickenfoot must have all their "Chickentoes" before any other plays can be made.
(Diagram 3 shows the Chickentoes arranged around a double tile, with arrows pointing to the Chickentoes.)
Forming a Chickenfoot: Once any double tile has been played on one of the Chickentoes, it must be played horizontally. The next 3 plays must be made on the double tile, 1 tile played sideways (at right angle) and 2 played diagonally, on only one side of the set tile, for a total of 3 tiles forming a Chickenfoot.
Only after the new Chickenfoot has been completed, may the players return to adding tiles to any of the Chickentoes, until someone plays another double (Diagram 3).
Ending a round and scoring:
- A round ends when a player has "Dominoed" (played his/her last tile), or when the game is blocked, i.e.: the boneyard is depleted and all players have passed on their turn.
- Each player adds up the numbers appearing on the dominoes in his/her hand and gives the total to the scorekeeper.
- 50 points are added to a player's score for any player left holding the double-0 (or blank) tile.
Subsequent rounds: Dominoes are reshuffled before each round. Each new round begins with the next-lowest double tile (assuming play with a double-9 set, the 2nd round would begin with the double-8 tile, then the double-7, double-6 and so on, the last round beginning with a double-0 tile). For any given size domino set, the number of rounds equals the largest suit +1 (for the double-0 title [sic]). (For example, with a double-9 set, a game will last 10 rounds and with a double-12 set, 13 rounds).
Final scoring and winning: After the last round, the player with the lowest total score wins the game.