How Points Work in Popular Domino Games
Scoring is one of the most confusing parts of dominoes — not because it’s complicated, but because each variant scores differently.
Some games reward you for getting rid of tiles quickly.
Others score points during play.
And a few do both.
This guide explains how dominoes scoring works, with clear examples for the most popular games — starting with Mexican Train Dominoes.
How Dominoes Scoring Works (Big Picture)
Most domino games fall into one of two scoring styles:
- End-of-round scoring
Players count the pips left in their hand when a round ends. - Scoring during play
Players score points as the game progresses, based on tile placement.
Mexican Train uses the first method, while games like All Fives use the second.
Mexican Train Dominoes Scoring
Mexican Train uses simple, end-of-round scoring, which is part of why it’s so popular.
How scoring works:
- When a round ends, each player counts the total pips left in their hand
- The player who used all their tiles scores zero
- All other players add their pip total to their overall score
- Lower scores are better
When does a round end?
- One player plays their last domino, or
- The game becomes blocked and no one can play
Winning the game
Most games are played until:
- All rounds (usually Double-12 down to Double-0) are completed, or
- A target score is reached (often 100 or 200)
For full gameplay context, see Mexican Train Dominoes Rules.
Classic Dominoes Scoring
In classic domino games, scoring is also based on remaining tiles.
Typical method:
- When a player goes out, opponents count the pips in their hands
- Those pips are added to the winner’s score
Some casual games skip cumulative scoring and simply play round by round.
👉 See Dominoes Rules (General) for classic game variations.
Block Dominoes Scoring
Block Dominoes scoring is very similar to classic dominoes.
- Players score based on opponents’ remaining pips
- If the game blocks, the player with the lowest pip total wins
- That player scores the difference between their hand and opponents’ hands
This style rewards careful tile management and blocking strategy.
Draw Dominoes Scoring
Draw Dominoes also uses pip-based scoring, but with one key difference:
- Players draw from the boneyard until they can play
- This usually results in higher scores at the end of a round
Scoring still depends on remaining pips when someone goes out or the game blocks.
All Fives Dominoes Scoring (Different System)
All Fives is the most common domino game that scores during play, not just at the end.
How it works:
- When the open ends of the layout add up to a multiple of 5, the player scores points
- Common scoring totals: 5, 10, 15, 20
Example:
If the open ends total 10, the player scores 10 points immediately.
This system makes All Fives more tactical and math-focused.
👉 See All Fives Dominoes Rules for a full breakdown.
Scoring When a Game Is Blocked
A blocked game happens when:
- No player can make a legal move
- The boneyard is empty (if applicable)
When this happens:
- All players count remaining pips
- The player with the lowest pip total wins the round
- Other players’ pips are added to their scores (or to the winner, depending on the variant)
This rule applies to Mexican Train, Block, and Draw games.
Common Scoring Mistakes
- Forgetting to count doubles correctly
- Misunderstanding blocked game rules
- Mixing scoring systems from different variants
- Assuming all domino games score the same way
Most confusion disappears once you know which scoring system your game uses.
How Domino Set Size Affects Scoring
Larger domino sets:
- Increase average hand values
- Lead to higher round scores
- Support more players
This is why Mexican Train requires a Double-12 domino set.
👉 See Domino Sets Explained (Double-6 vs 9 vs 12) for details.
👉 Looking to buy? Visit Best Mexican Train Domino Sets.
Final Thoughts
Dominoes scoring isn’t hard — it’s just different from game to game.
Once you understand whether a game scores during play or at the end of a round, everything else falls into place.
If you’re just getting started:
Or explore Dominoes Rules for other popular variants
Begin with Mexican Train Dominoes Rules