Official Texas 42 Rules

Last Updated on May 26, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

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How to Play Texas 42 Domino Game

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Introduction

Texas 42, often called simply 42 or Forty-Two, is a classic trick-taking domino game that combines the strategy of card games with the familiar feel of dominoes. Unlike traditional domino games, players do not connect tiles together. Instead, the goal is to win tricks, score points, and outbid your opponents through careful teamwork and smart play.

Popular throughout Texas, the game is usually played with four players in partnerships, though larger groups can also play with rule adjustments. If you enjoy games that reward communication, memory, and tactical thinking, Texas 42 is one of the deepest domino games you can learn.

What You Need to Play

Texas 42 uses a standard double-six domino set, which contains 28 dominoes total. The most common version is played with:

• 4 players
• 2 teams of 2
• Partners sitting opposite each other

Every hand consists of bidding, choosing trump, and then playing tricks to earn points.

The Goal of Texas 42

The objective is to score points by winning tricks and collecting valuable dominoes called honors. A total of 42 points are available in every hand, which is where the game gets its name.

The bidding team must score at least the amount they bid. If they fail, the opposing team scores instead.

In most games, teams compete to earn 7 marks before their opponents.

Understanding Tricks and Honors

A hand of Texas 42 is made up of 7 tricks. Each trick is worth 1 point, giving a total of 7 trick points.

Additional points come from special dominoes called honors. These are dominoes whose pips total 5 or 10 points.

Honor Dominoes

• 0-5 = 5 points
• 1-4 = 5 points
• 2-3 = 5 points
• 4-6 = 10 points
• 5-5 = 10 points

Together, the tricks and honors equal exactly 42 total points.

Winning honor dominoes is extremely important because they often decide close games. Skilled players pay attention not only to winning tricks, but also to controlling where honors end up.

Domino Suits and Ranking

Texas 42 uses a unique suit system that can confuse new players at first. Every number from 0 through 6 represents a separate suit.

That means there are seven suits total:

• Blanks
• Ones
• Twos
• Threes
• Fours
• Fives
• Sixes

A domino belongs to both suits shown on it unless one of those suits becomes trump.

Example of Trump

If threes are trump, every domino containing a 3 becomes part of the trump suit.

The trump ranking would be:

1. 3-3
2. 6-3
3. 5-3
4. 4-3
5. 3-2
6. 3-1
7. 3-0

All trump dominoes outrank non-trump dominoes.

Non-Trump Dominoes

Outside the trump suit, dominoes belong to both suits they display. For example:

• 6-5 belongs to both the sixes suit and the fives suit
• 4-1 belongs to both fours and ones

This dual-suit system is what makes Texas 42 more strategic than many other domino games.

Setting Up the Game

To begin, shuffle the dominoes face down on the table. Players draw seven dominoes each. There is no boneyard in Texas 42 because all 28 dominoes are dealt out.

Players stand their dominoes upright so only they can see them.

In partnership play:

• Partners sit across from one another
• The dealer rotates clockwise after each hand
• The player to the dealer’s left bids first

How Bidding Works

Bidding is one of the most important parts of Texas 42. During bidding, teams estimate how many points they think they can win during the hand.

The minimum legal bid is 30.

Bids continue upward one point at a time:

• 30
• 31
• 32
• and so on up to 42

After 42, bids move into marks:

• 1 mark = 42 points
• 2 marks
• 3 marks
• etc.

A bid of 42 or higher means the bidding team believes they can win every trick.

Important Bidding Rules

• Each player gets only one chance to bid or pass
• Every new bid must be higher than the last
• If all players pass, the dominoes are reshuffled and redealt
• High bids carry huge risk but can quickly win the game

Strong bidding requires memory, probability, and trust in your partner.

Choosing Trump

Once bidding ends, the highest bidder becomes the declarer and chooses the trump suit.

Trump is powerful because any trump domino beats all non-trump dominoes.

The declarer may choose:

• Blanks
• Ones
• Twos
• Threes
• Fours
• Fives
• Sixes

Some versions also allow special trump types such as No Trump or Doubles Trump.

How to Play a Trick

After trump is named, the declarer leads the first domino.

Play continues clockwise around the table.

Following Suit

Players must follow suit whenever possible.

This is where Texas 42 becomes especially strategic because non-trump dominoes may belong to two suits at once.

Example

If sixes are led:

• 6-5 counts as a six
• 6-2 counts as a six
• 6-6 counts as a six

If you own any domino containing a six, you must play one.

If you cannot follow suit, you may play any domino, including trump.

Winning the Trick

The trick is won by:

1. The highest trump played, or
2. The highest domino in the led suit if no trump appears

The winner collects the trick and leads the next one.

Understanding Strategy in Texas 42

Texas 42 is far more than luck. Experienced players constantly track suits, estimate hidden dominoes, and communicate information through their plays.

Controlling Trump

Managing the trump suit is often the key to victory. Strong trump hands allow players to:

• Capture honor dominoes
• Protect their partner
• Control the pace of the hand

Many players try to pull out opposing trump early so their high dominoes become safer later.

Watching Honor Dominoes

Because only five dominoes carry bonus points, tracking them is critical.

A team might win more tricks overall but still lose the hand if the opponents capture the valuable honors.

Partner Communication

You cannot openly discuss your hand with your teammate, but your plays communicate information indirectly.

Leading certain suits can suggest:

• Strength
• Weakness
• A desire for trump support
• Control of honors

Learning to interpret these signals is a huge part of advanced play.

Scoring in Texas 42

There are two major scoring systems:

• Marks
• Points

The traditional version uses marks.

Marks Scoring

If the bidding team succeeds:

• They earn 1 mark for bids from 30–42
• Higher mark bids earn the amount bid

If the bidding team fails:

• The opposing team earns the marks instead

The game usually ends when one team reaches 7 marks.

Points Scoring

Some groups prefer cumulative point scoring instead.

In this version:

• Teams add the actual points won in tricks
• Failed bids award bonus points to opponents
• Games continue until a target score is reached

Special Contracts

Advanced Texas 42 includes several special game modes that dramatically change strategy.

Nello

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Nello is a reverse-style contract where the declarer attempts to lose every trick.

There are:

• No trumps
• Special suit rules for doubles
• Extremely high risk and reward

The declarer’s partner sits out entirely, making it a solo challenge.

Winning Nello requires careful sacrifice plays and precise control.

Plunge

A Plunge is an aggressive all-tricks contract requiring the bidder to hold at least four doubles.

The declarer’s partner selects trump without help from the bidder.

To succeed, the team must capture every trick.

Plunge hands are rare but exciting because they create dramatic high-stakes gameplay.

Sevens

In Sevens, players try to play dominoes whose pip totals are closest to seven.

The closest tile wins the trick.

This variation changes the game from suit strategy into a mathematical puzzle.

No Trump

Some games allow a No Trump contract.

Without trump:

• Tricks are won strictly by suit rank
• Doubles may rank high or low depending on the chosen rules
• Players rely heavily on suit control

No Trump rewards advanced planning and careful lead management.

Doubles Trump

Another variation uses all doubles as trump.

The trump ranking becomes:

1. 6-6
2. 5-5
3. 4-4
4. 3-3
5. 2-2
6. 1-1
7. 0-0

This creates unusual situations where doubles become incredibly powerful.

Common Beginner Mistakes

New players often struggle with the unique suit system and bidding strategy.

Overbidding

Many beginners bid too aggressively before understanding domino distribution.

Winning a bid means nothing if you cannot actually make the contract.

Forgetting Suits

Players sometimes forget that non-trump dominoes belong to two suits.

This mistake can lead to illegal plays or wasted opportunities.

Ignoring Honors

Capturing honor dominoes matters just as much as winning tricks.

Strong players always keep track of where the 5-point and 10-point dominoes are likely located.

Wasting Trump

Using valuable trump too early can leave your team helpless later in the hand.

Patience is often rewarded.

Texas 42 Strategy Tips

Lead Strong Suits Early

If you control a suit with several high dominoes, leading it early can help your team establish dominance.

This may also force opponents to waste trump.

Count Dominoes

Memory is extremely important in Texas 42.

Experienced players remember:

• Which suits have been played
• Which honors remain
• Which trump dominoes are still active

Tracking the game accurately creates a huge advantage.

Protect Your Partner

Sometimes the best play is not your strongest domino.

Helping your partner win key tricks can be more valuable than taking points yourself.

Bid Conservatively at First

New players should avoid huge bids until they become comfortable reading hands and predicting outcomes.

A safe 30 or 31 bid is often smarter than risking a failed 38.

Learn Trump Control

Controlling trump separates beginners from advanced players.

Understanding when to draw out opposing trump and when to save your own is essential.

Variations of Texas 42

Texas 42 has many regional rule variations.

Some groups play:

• Forced dealer bids
• No special contracts
• Alternate trump systems
• Different scoring methods
• Custom Nello rules

Before starting a game, players should always agree on the rules being used.

Why Texas 42 Is So Popular

Texas 42 remains popular because it blends:

• Teamwork
• Strategy
• Probability
• Memory
• Communication

Unlike many simple domino games, every decision matters. Skilled players can consistently outperform inexperienced opponents through smart bidding and tactical play.

The game has also become a major social tradition across Texas, especially during family gatherings, tournaments, and community events.

Texas 42 FAQ

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Conclusion

Texas 42 is one of the most strategic domino games ever created. Combining trick-taking mechanics with partnership tactics and clever bidding, it offers a deep and rewarding experience for casual players and competitive groups alike.

While the rules can feel complex at first, the game becomes incredibly satisfying once players understand how suits, trump, and honors interact. Whether you are learning with family or competing in serious matches, Texas 42 rewards patience, memory, teamwork, and long-term strategy.

If you enjoy games that challenge both your tactical thinking and your ability to work with a partner, Texas 42 is absolutely worth learning.