Official Chickenfoot Domino Rules

Last Updated on July 14, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Chickenfoot Dominoes is a fun and easy-to-learn domino game. The objective is to play as many dominoes as possible while minimizing the points from the tiles left in your hand. The player with the lowest total score at the end of the game wins. Here’s how to play:

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.

How to Play Chickenfoot Dominos

---

What You Need

• Double-9 Domino Set: 55 tiles with all number combinations from double-blank (0–0) to double-nine (9–9).
• Optional Center Hub: Used to hold the starting double in the middle of the table.
• Scorepad: For recording player totals after each round.

---

Setup and Starting a Round

1. Shuffle all tiles face down and have each player draw a hand based on how many people are playing:
   • 2 players: 21 tiles each
   • 3 players: 14 tiles each
   • 4 players: 11 tiles each
   • 5 players: 8 tiles each
   • 6 players: 7 tiles each
   • 7 players: 6 tiles each
   • 8 players: 5 tiles each
2. Place the leftover tiles in a draw pile called the chicken yard.
3. Each round starts with a specific double tile placed in the center. The game begins with double-9, then proceeds down to double-0, for a total of 10 rounds.
   • If no one has the correct double to start the round, players draw one tile at a time from the chicken yard until it is found.

---

Taking Turns

Play moves clockwise. On your turn:

• Try to play a tile that matches the number on the center double.
• If you can’t play, draw one tile from the chicken yard. If it matches, play it. If not, say “Pass” and end your turn.
• Players continue taking turns until all open ends of the center double are filled (usually 4 or 6, depending on house rules).

Some players use a hub with 6 spokes, others allow only 4 sides to be filled. Playing without a hub is also fine.

---

Continuing the Round

Once the starting double is surrounded, players can build off any open matching end on the layout.

• You may only place a tile if one of its sides matches the number it’s connecting to.
• If you cannot play, draw from the chicken yard (if any tiles remain). Otherwise, pass.

---

The “Chickenfoot” Formation

Whenever a double tile is played during the game (e.g., 5–5), it must be laid perpendicular to the tile it’s played on.

• The player announces the move by saying something like “Chickie Fives!”
• This triggers a Chickenfoot: Three matching tiles must be played off that double before regular play can resume.
• Until the Chickenfoot is completed, no other moves can be made.

If you can’t play on the Chickenfoot, draw from the chicken yard. If the tile you draw doesn’t work, you pass.

---

Ending the Round

A round ends when either:

• One player plays their last tile, or
• No one can make a legal move.

All players then total the pips (dots) on the dominoes left in their hands and record those points as their score for the round.

Optional Rule: The double-blank (0–0) can count as 50 points to raise the stakes.

---

Winning the Game

After all 10 rounds are completed (starting from double-9 down to double-0), players total their scores. The player with the lowest total score wins the game!

So that’s how to play Chickenfoot Dominos! It’s a fun and easy variation on Mexican Train Dominoes that’s great for families and friendly competition.