The lead player may play any tile as the first tile. From that point forward, the tiles
that may be played are constrained to match the exposed ends of the
skeleton.
The placing of the first tile is proscribed to follow predetermined rules so that no
information is communicated to the player's partner:
If the first tile is a
double
it must be placed horizontally between the lead player and his partner.
If the first tile is not a
double,
it must be placed vertically between the lead player and his partner, with the
end containing the larger number of pips pointing to the partner and the end
with fewer pips pointing to the lead player.
If playing with two or three players where teams are not possible, the same rules apply
but the existence of the partner and opponents is assumed.
Play progresses counter-clockwise from the lead player so that the player to the right of
the lead goes second. If the first piece played was a double, the second player must play
off the nearest side of the double and may only play a tile that contains the matching number
of pips on one end. Once played, the other end of the newly played tile becomes exposed, thus
allowing the third player to play either on the other side of the original double or on the
newly exposed end of the second piece, but in either case only by placing a tile that has an
end with a matching number of pips. If the first piece played was not a double, the second
player may play on either end of the piece but only by matching the number of pips.
Play continues in a counter-clockwise fashion. If a player does not have any tiles which
have a number of pips that matches one of the exposed ends of the skeleton, that player must
draw from the
boneyard
one tile at a time until he draws one which may be played. If there is
no boneyard or there are no more tiles left in the boneyard, that player must
pass. If a player has at least one tile that matches one of the exposed ends of the skeleton,
that player must play a tile and cannot pass. When placing tiles on the skeleton, doubles must
be placed crosswise so that the end of the skeleton touches the side of the double. If a tile
is played that is not a double, the matching end of the tile is placed adjacent to the end
of the skeleton to which it matches, with the domino placed in a lengthwise fashion. If there
is no room, the tile may "turn the corner" by being placed at a right angle (90º) to the end
of the skeleton. Whenever a player has two choices of where to place a tile, he must always
choose the end closest so that no information is conveyed to his partner by the manner of play.
