Domino Matador Games
Some domino connecting games use a matador matching rule, in which the spot value of touching tile ends has to add up to a fixed total. Traditional matador games are played with a double-six domino set, and touching ends have to add up to 7, so that for example if one of the open ends is a 2, the next tile played on that end must begin with a 5.
In the double-six set there are four matadors: these are the double blank and the tiles whose ends add up to 7, i.e. the [0:0], [6:1], [5:2] and [4:3]. Matadors are wild tiles in the sense that they can be played on any open end of the layout in either orientation. If the layout has a blank at an open end the only way to continue that arm is with a matador.
Matador matching can in principle also be used with larger domino sets. The equivalent rule when using an [n:n] set would be that touching ends must add up to n+1 and that the tiles whose ends add up to n+1 together with the double blank are wild matadors. For example in a double nine set there would be six matadors: [0:0], [9:1], [8:2], [7:3], [6:4], [5:5].
Here is a list of traditional and invented domino games on pagat.com that use matador matching.
| Game | Players | Equipment | Game type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominoes-Matrix | 2–5 | [6:6] [9:9] [12:12] | connecting:network pattern scoring | |
| Leyden | 2 | [6:6] | connecting:cross shedding | |
| Matador | 2–4, 5–8 | [6:6] [9:9] [12:12] | connecting:line shedding | |
| Nos | 3–5 | [6:6] | connecting:line connecting:cross equal end matching shedding | |
Notes on the index
Invented games, mostly submitted by readers of pagat.com, are listed in italics.
- Players
- The preferred number of players is shown in bold. Other numbers with which it is possible to play are shown in grey.
- Equipment
- Western domino sets are indicated by the highest number of pips on a tile end - for example [6:6] is a standard double 6 set of 28 tiles, [12:12] is a set of 91 tiles with up to 12 pips on each end.
- Game Type
- Indicates the layout shape, the game's objective (for example 'shedding' if the aim is to be the first to get rid of all one's tiles) and other families to which the game belongs.