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:
1. End-of-Round Scoring
- Players count the pips left in their hand when a round ends
- Lower totals are better
2. Scoring During Play
- Players score points as the game progresses
- Points depend on tile placement and layout totals
Mexican Train Dominoes uses end-of-round scoring, while games like All Fives Dominoes score during play.
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.
For classic rule variations, see Dominoes Rules (General).
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.
For full rules, see Block Dominoes Rules.
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.
For full rules, see Draw Dominoes Rules.
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:
- After playing a domino, add up the open ends of the layout
- If the total is a multiple of five, the player scores that many points
Common scoring totals:
- 5 → score 5 points
- 10 → score 10 points
- 15 → score 15 points
- 20 → score 20 points
Example:
If the open ends total 10, the player scores 10 points immediately.
This system makes All Fives more tactical and math-focused.
For a complete breakdown, see All Fives Dominoes Rules.
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:
Common Scoring Mistakes
Most scoring confusion comes from:
- Forgetting to count doubles correctly
- Misunderstanding blocked-game rules
- Mixing scoring systems from different variants
- Assuming all domino games score the same way
If scoring feels off, it’s usually because rules from another variant are sneaking in.
For a broader list, see Common Dominoes Mistakes.
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 and Chicken Foot require a Double-12 domino set.
For details, see Domino Sets Explained.
If you’re buying a set, Best Mexican Train Domino Sets covers reliable options.
Final Thoughts
Dominoes scoring isn’t hard — it’s just different from game to game.
Once you know whether a game scores during play or at the end of a round, everything else falls into place.
If you’re just getting started, begin with Mexican Train Dominoes Rules, or explore Domino Game Variants to see how scoring changes across games.