Number of players:

2 to 4

Type of dominoes required:

Standard double-six set with 28 pieces

Introduction

Fives-Up is also called All Fives or Muggins. It is the game that is played online at Yahoo Games.

Fives-Up is unique in that players score points during the game when they place pieces that result in the ends of the domino chain adding up to a multiple of 5.

Starting the game

Place the dominoes face-down on the table and mix them up.

Each player selects one domino. The player with the highest point value will start the game. Return the dominoes to the table and mix them all up again.

If 2 people are playing, each player selects 7 dominoes. If 3 or 4 people are playing, each player selects 5 dominoes. Keep your dominoes in front of you but hidden from your opponent(s).

Leave the rest of the dominoes face-down on the table in the “boneyard”.

Playing the game

The player who starts places down any one of their dominoes. The next player to the left must then place a matching domino next to the first domino. For example, if the first player started the game with 6|5, the next player must play a domino that has a six or a five on it.

If the player doesn’t have a domino of matching value, they must pick up a domino from the boneyard. They keep picking up dominoes from the boneyard until they get a playable domino.

If there are if no more dominoes left, the player must pass their turn.

 

 

 

 

 

This diagram shows two ways to place dominoes at the end of the chain. Both ways are correct. Note that doubles are always placed perpendicular to other dominoes.

The first double played in the game is a spinner. You can play off all four sides of a spinner.

In this diagram 3|3 is the first double played and is therefore a spinner. Players can place dominoes against all four sides of the spinner.

Winning and scoring

Players score points when they play a domino that makes all points on the end of the domino chain equal a multiple of five. For example, if the end points equal 15, the player scores 15 points.

In this diagram, the player scores 15 because the playable ends total 15: 2+5+3+5=15

The first person to run out of dominoes is the winner of the round. If no one runs out of dominoes but everybody passes because they don’t have a playable domino, the person with the lowest score is the winner.

The winner scores the total number of points on the opponents unplayed dominoes, rounded off to the nearest multiple of 5, then divided by 5. If the winner had any unplayed dominoes, subtract them from the score. For example, if the winner had no dominoes left and their opponents had 26 points left, the winner would score 25/5=5 points.

A game of Fives-Up is typically played to 100 or 200 points.

Playing as partners

When playing with 4 people, you can play as partners. Partners sit across from each other at the table.

Variations

Some players do not count the value of the spinner when determining if the dominoes ends add up to a multiple of 5.

Sometimes, the game is played with no spinners or with all doubles as spinners.