Tournament Rules
Official Rules & Gameplay
The Grateful Bones Domino Tournament operates under a format designed to balance fairness, efficiency, and competitive intensity.
Tournament Format
Spinner Regulation
The first double played becomes the spinner, playable on all four sides. Players must mark the spinner on their scorecard. Any play on a non-spinner double constitutes a Bogus Play and results in disqualification.
Domino Exposure
Dominoes exposed during shuffle are reshuffled immediately. No redraws or reshuffles are permitted for voids or excess doubles.
Scoring and Muggins
Scores must be called aloud before the next play. Failure to announce a score allows the opponent to claim missed points via Muggins, transferring those points to their total.
Locked Game Protocol
When play is blocked, the player with the lowest pip total wins the hand and collects the opponent's total. The player holding the highest double initiates the next hand.
Bogus Play Enforcement
Any illegal play results in immediate disqualification. Officials must be summoned before subsequent plays continue.
Passed with Playable Domino
Drawing from the boneyard while holding playable tiles results in disqualification. Opponents are responsible for calling the infraction.
Exposed or Misplayed Domino
Exposed dominoes must be played at the first opportunity. Misplaced dominoes are corrected before the next play; failure to do so invokes the Bogus Play rule.
Timing and Pace of Play
Each player has 15 seconds per move. Two slow-play warnings result in disqualification. Officials monitor all timing and issue formal warnings.
Game Duration
Each game lasts 15 minutes, with 45 minutes per match. Ties trigger overtime until the first player scores.
Player Conduct
Respect and decorum are mandatory. Verbal confrontations or unsportsmanlike behavior result in immediate removal. Dominoes is a social game — integrity and respect are non-negotiable.
Equipment Etiquette
No slamming dominoes or cards. Damage caused by aggressive play incurs financial liability. Dominoes must remain visible at all times; concealment leads to disqualification.
Scorekeeping
Players record all scores, wins, and losses on official scorecards. Spinner tracking is mandatory for each game.
Breaks and Substitutions
No breaks during the final 15 minutes of a round. No substitutions permitted under any circumstance.
Ties and Reshuffles
If both players are blocked with identical pip totals, no points are awarded. Tiles are reshuffled, and the player with the highest double begins the next hand.
On the Board
Players do not need points on the board to collect opponent points after domino-ing.