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Chickenfoot

A block-type domino game, played by two or more players using any Western set of dominoes, but best played with four or more using a Double-Nine, Double-Twelve, Double-Fifteen or Double-Eighteen domino set and a score-sheet.  A fairly recent domino game that is popular in Texas.

Play:

The dominoes are shuffled, facedown, then each player draws a number of tiles, that only they can look at, that differs according to the number of players taking part and the type of domino set used.

Double-Nine

  • 2 players draw 12 tiles each.
  • 3 players draw 11 tiles each.
  • 4 players draw 10 tiles each.

Double-Twelve

  • 5 players draw 12 tiles each.
  • 6 players draw 11 tiles each.
  • 7 players draw 10 tiles each.
  • 8 players draw 9 tiles each.

Double-Fifteen

  • 9 players draw 12 tiles each.
  • 10 players draw 11 tiles each.
  • 11 players draw 10 tiles each.
  • 12 players draw 9 tiles each.

Double-Eighteen

  • 13 players draw 12 tiles each.
  • 14 players draw 11 tiles each.
  • 15 players draw 10 tiles each.
  • 16 players draw 9 tiles each.

Any remaining tiles are used as the boneyard (or chickenyard) and may be drawn upon by players during the course of play.

The lead player holding the highest double in the domino set, sets it down, and then players in turn lay tiles onto the open ends of the domino layout with same-number adjacent to same-number (the first double allowing play to branch four ways and known as the spinner).  Should a player be unable to set a domino from their hand onto the layout, they must draw a tile, once only, from any in the boneyard and are allowed to play it onto the layout if they are able.

Doubles are placed horizontally onto tile ends and a player who plays one should announce it by saying "chicken foot".  No further tiles may be played anywhere else on the layout until three are placed to the chickenfoot-double forming the chickenfoot pattern that gives the game its name.

All three tile ends of the chickenfoot "toes" may be subsequently played on.

Once a player is holding only one tile in their hand, by courtesy, they must announce it by saying "uno!".

Once a player has dominoed by setting their last tile, or the game is blocked with no player able to set a tile, the round is over and the player who dominoed or has the lowest total of pips left in their hand, is the winner of that round.  Players then score the total number of pips on all their remaining dominoes except for the double-blank which scores 50 points.

A number of rounds are played, each started with a subsequently lower double than the previous round, down to double-blank, and the player who scores the greatest total of points, loses the game, and the lowest scoring player, wins.

Variations:

The first initially set double is played on both horizontal sides with 3 tiles on each side, forming a double chickenfoot.

If the double needed to start the game is in the boneyard (or chickenyard), players may start with the next lowest double or reshuffle the domino set and start again.

 

 

 
 
 

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