What New Players Get Wrong
Dominoes is easy to learn — but that doesn’t mean mistakes don’t happen.
Most errors aren’t about strategy. They come from:
- Using the wrong set
- Mixing rules between games
- Misunderstanding scoring
- Skipping small but important steps
This guide covers the most common dominoes mistakes, especially ones that confuse new players and slow games down.
Using the Wrong Domino Set
This is the number one mistake.
- Using a Double-6 set for Mexican Train
- Playing group games with too few tiles
- Buying novelty sets without checking size
Mexican Train and Chicken Foot both require a Double-12 domino set.
👉 See Domino Sets Explained
👉 See Best Mexican Train Domino Sets
Mixing Rules Between Domino Games
Dominoes has many variants, and rules do not transfer automatically.
Common mix-ups:
- Playing Block rules in Draw Dominoes
- Using Mexican Train double rules in Chicken Foot
- Scoring All Fives like classic dominoes
Always agree on the variant before starting.
👉 See Dominoes Rules (General) for differences
👉 Variant guides: Mexican Train, All Fives, Block, Draw
Forgetting to Handle Doubles Correctly
Doubles cause more confusion than any other rule.
Examples:
- Not satisfying doubles in Mexican Train
- Ignoring chicken-foot branches
- Playing elsewhere before doubles are resolved
Each game treats doubles differently.
👉 See Mexican Train Dominoes Rules
👉 See Chicken Foot Dominoes Rules
Misunderstanding When a Train Is Open
In Mexican Train:
- Drawing a tile opens your personal train
- Forgetting to mark it allows illegal plays
- Closing a train incorrectly causes disputes
Train markers exist for a reason.
👉 See Mexican Train Accessories (Trains, Hubs, Markers)
Miscounting or Skipping Scoring
Scoring mistakes are common, especially late in games.
Typical issues:
- Forgetting to count doubles properly
- Mixing end-of-round scoring with All Fives scoring
- Forgetting to score blocked games
Scoring should be consistent across all rounds.
👉 See Dominoes Scoring Explained
Ending Turns Too Quickly
New players often:
- Play a tile and forget to check for scoring
- Miss playable options
- Ignore the Mexican Train
Taking a moment to scan the board prevents most mistakes.
Forgetting the Boneyard Rules
Different games treat the boneyard differently.
- Block Dominoes: no drawing
- Draw Dominoes: draw when you can’t play
- Mexican Train: draw opens your train
Mixing these rules changes the game entirely.
👉 See Block Dominoes Rules
👉 See Draw Dominoes Rules
Overthinking Strategy Too Early
Dominoes rewards awareness, not perfection.
Common beginner traps:
- Hoarding doubles too long
- Playing defensively without reason
- Overanalyzing early turns
Understanding the rules matters far more than advanced strategy at first.
👉 See Dominoes for Beginners
Ignoring Setup Details
Small setup errors create big problems later.
Examples:
- Wrong number of tiles drawn
- Incorrect starting double
- No agreement on house rules
Clear setup prevents arguments mid-game.
Final Advice
Most dominoes mistakes come from assumptions, not bad play.
If something feels confusing during a game:
- Pause
- Check which variant you’re playing
- Confirm the rule before continuing
That one habit solves most problems instantly.