The name of the game is the scoring system. Every hand of Texas 42 is worth exactly 42 points: 35 points from five “count” dominoes and 7 points for the seven tricks. Once you know which five dominoes count, everything else follows.
The basic rules of play are on the main Texas 42 rules page. This page covers where the points come from and the two ways Texas tables keep score.
The Five Count Dominoes
Only five of the 28 dominoes carry points. Here’s the easy way to remember them: each count domino’s pips add up to its value.
| Domino | Pips | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 5-5 | 10 | 10 |
| 6-4 | 10 | 10 |
| 5-0 | 5 | 5 |
| 4-1 | 5 | 5 |
| 3-2 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
Old-time players call these the count, or the count bones. Add 1 point for each of the 7 tricks and you get 35 + 7 = 42.
The count dominoes go to whichever side wins the trick they’re played on, not to the player who held them. That’s why so much of the game is about getting your counters onto your partner’s tricks, and keeping them off your opponents’ tricks.
Counting Points After a Hand
At the end of a hand, each side adds up the tricks it won plus any count inside those tricks.
Example. Your side bid 31. You won 5 tricks, and they held the 6-4, the 5-5 and the 3-2.
- Your side: 5 tricks + 10 + 10 + 5 = 30 points
- Their side: 2 tricks + the 5-0 and the 4-1 = 2 + 5 + 5 = 12 points
- Check: 30 + 12 = 42
You needed 31, so you’re set by a single point. That one 5-count trick decided the hand.
Scoring With Marks (7 Marks to Win)
Most Texas family games are played for marks. Each hand is worth marks, not points, and the first side to 7 marks wins.
- Bid 30 to 42 and make it: your side scores 1 mark.
- Bid 2 marks or more and make it: your side scores the number of marks bid.
- Get set: the other side scores the marks your bid was worth. A set 31 bid gives them 1 mark, and a set 2-mark bid gives them 2.
Marks are traditionally drawn as strokes that spell A-L-L: three strokes for the A, two for each L. Seven strokes spell ALL, and the game is over.
In the example above, your side was set on a 31 bid, so the other side draws 1 mark.
Scoring With Points (250 to Win)
Some groups keep a running point total instead. The first side to 250 points wins.
- Bid made: each side scores the points it actually took.
- Bid set: the bidding side scores 0, and the other side scores the bid plus its own points.
Two examples on a bid of 32:
| Bidders took | Bidders score | Opponents score |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 35 | 7 |
| 30 (set) | 0 | 12 + 32 = 44 |
Bids of 42 and above are all-or-nothing. If you make a 42 or 84 bid, your side scores the bid. If you’re set, the other side scores the bid and nothing extra for tricks.
In the points game, bids above 42 go up in steps of 42: 84, then 168. Under marks they’re called 2 marks, 3 marks and so on. How those big bids work is on the Texas 42 bidding page.
🁫 New to Bidding Games? Ease In First
If Texas 42 feels like a jump, brush up on the basics with the free dominoes cheat sheet before your first hand.
Download the Free Cheat SheetMarks or Points: Which Should You Play?
| Marks | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Game ends at | 7 marks | 250 points |
| A made bid of 30–42 is worth | 1 mark | The points you took |
| A set costs you | The marks your bid was worth | The bid, plus the other side’s points |
| Feel | Fast, every hand counts the same | Rewards big, clean hands |
Marks games are quicker and simpler to keep, which is why most kitchen tables use them. The points game rewards a side that takes a lot of count on a modest bid. Pick one before the first shake, and write it at the top of the score sheet.
Scoring House Rules to Settle First
- Win by two: some groups require a 2-mark lead to win at 7.
- Everyone passes: in the standard marks game, the hand is thrown in and the next player shakes. Many tables play a forced bid instead, where the shaker must bid 30 if the other three pass.
- Special contracts: Nello, Sevens and Plunge score in marks too. See Nello, Sevens & Plunge.
Texas 42 Scoring FAQ
How many points are in a hand of 42?
42: 35 from the five count dominoes and 1 for each of the 7 tricks.
Which dominoes count in 42?
The 5-5 and 6-4 (10 points each), and the 5-0, 4-1 and 3-2 (5 points each).
How many marks win a game of 42?
7 marks, traditionally tallied as the word ALL.
What happens when you get set in 42?
In the marks game, the other side scores the marks your bid was worth. In the points game, they score your bid plus their own points.
Do you score points for tricks in 42?
Yes, 1 point per trick, 7 in total.
New to the bidding side of the game? Start with Texas 42 strategy for how to read your hand’s count.