Trio Domino
Trio Domino Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Set Up
How are the game tiles distributed?
Triodomino has 56 triangular tiles. Values between 0 and 5 are found at the three points of the equilateral triangles.
Each player gets a game stand. In the spiral notepad the names of the players are listed in columns so that the score of each player can be seen throughout the game.
Then all 56 tiles are placed face down on the table and mixed well. One player distributes the tiles in turn to all players.
- With 2 players each player gets 10 tiles.
- With 3 or 4 players each one gets 8 tiles.
Game pieces that are left over remain face down as possible follow-up moves (in the game box). They are the stockpile for the rest of the game.
Each player places their tiles on their own stand, making sure that the other players cannot see their tiles.
The youngest player starts the game.
Each tile has a specific value. The value is calculated as the sum of the points in the three corners.
This tile has the values 3+2+4 = 9 points.
Object of the Game
Each player tries to be the first to place all the tiles which are on his/her stand, thereby ending the game.
The other players with tiles still on their stands receive the sum value of those tiles calculated as points.
Whoever has the fewest points, after a previously agreed number of rounds, has won the game.
Gameplay
The First Move
The youngest player, who starts the game, places one stone of his/her choice face up in the middle of the table.
Example: The person who starts the game places this tile in the middle of the table.
Placing Tiles
The next player may – if they have a matching tile – add to the already played tile. Only one stone may be played per turn, on any open side of their choice.
The basic rule is: the points in both tile tips of two connecting tiles must match!
An example: Right / Wrong.
What Happens If You Cannot Place a Tile?
Whoever has no playable tile on their stand, that cannot be added to any open side of the "playing field", has to draw a tile from the stockpile.
If the tile drawn can be played, the player may do so and then it is the next player's turn. If the tile drawn cannot be played, the player has to keep it and draw a second piece. If this one can be played, it may be placed and it is the next player's turn. If this one (the second tile drawn) cannot be played, it is still the next player's turn.
That means, in one move you can draw up to two tiles.
How Must the Tiles Be Placed?
Basically, you can always add only one tile to already played pieces. Thereby, the points in the tile tips of two connecting tiles must match!
If you can – as in the following example – close a hexagon (here, the points on both sides have to match), you have an advantage:
You may – like at the beginning – place another tile open on the table, thereby creating an additional playing field.
Example: The player closes a hexagon with one of his/her tiles. Now, he/she can place a second tile open on the table, thereby creating a new playing field.
With another piece, the player starts a new playing field.
Important: A hexagon seldom stands alone, but most times develops out of a larger playing field! Incidentally, you can place your tiles however you like, as long as the tiles with the right values are placed together.
Simply in a row...
Or branched however.
A hexagon could be created here!
As long as no player can close a hexagon, and thereby having no other playing field available, everyone must continue to build onto the existing playing field.
End of the Game
The game ends when a player could place all their tiles from their stand onto the playing field(s). This player wins the game and gets 0 points.
All other players add up the values of the tiles, that – up to this moment – are still on their stands and the sum is written down as points.
The Overall Winner
Usually, you play 3 to 5 games and total the points from all games for each player. Whoever has the fewest points after the last game, is the overall winner.
Two Important Questions
1. Can You Play More Than One Tile in a Turn?
Usually "No". Each time a tile could be placed, it is the next player's turn. Only after closing a hexagon, the same player may place another tile. Thereby, he creates a new playing field for him-/herself and the other players.
2. What If All Players Have to Pass?
In case no player can add a tile, even after each drew two more tiles from the stockpile, the game is over. The player with the lowest total score of his/her remaining tiles wins. But, with this unusual way of winning, this player does not get 0 points but – like everyone else – the sum of his remaining tiles is written down as points. In this special case, he/she just has the fewest points.
Game Variation
Topsy-Turvy World
You play the game the other way around and try to get as many points as possible: In the version "Topsy-turvy world", the score (= the sum of the points in the three tile tips) of each played tile is written down in the notepad. Otherwise the rules of the main game apply.
The end of the game is when one player has played all the tiles from his/her stand. Still, that does not mean they've automatically won: Because now, all the points that players got during the game, are added up. Whoever gets the highest total, wins the game. (Of course, also with this variation, a game can be ended once no player can add another piece.)
And now, enjoy Triodomino!