How to Play Chicken Foot Dominoes

Chicken Foot is a relaxed, friendly domino game for two to eight players. The name comes from the shape the tiles make on the table: every time someone plays a double, three tiles fan out from it like the toes of a chicken's foot. The rules take about five minutes to learn. These are the rules our free online game uses, and we point out the places where families often play a little differently.

What You Need

A double-nine domino set: 55 tiles, from the 0–0 (double blank) up to the 9–9.
Two to eight players. Our online game seats four: you and three computer players.
Paper and pencil for keeping score. (Online, the scoreboard does this for you.)

A double-six set (28 tiles) works for a shorter game with two or three players, and a double-twelve set (91 tiles) suits a big table. See rule variations for how the numbers change.

Setting Up a Round

Turn all the tiles face down and mix them up. With four players, each person takes 11 tiles and stands them on edge so only they can see the faces. The tiles nobody took stay face down in the middle. That pile is the chicken yard, and it's where you draw from when you can't play.

The Starting Double

A full game is 10 rounds, and each round starts with a different double. Round 1 starts with the 9–9, round 2 with the 8–8, and so on down to the 0–0 in round 10.

Whoever holds the round's starting double places it face up in the center of the table. If nobody has it, players take turns drawing one tile from the chicken yard until somebody draws it. Play then passes to the left.

The 9-9 in the center with four tiles played on it, one on each side — The starting double with all four arms filled. Every arm has a 9 touching the double.

Before anyone can play anywhere else, four tiles must be played on the starting double, one on each side. Each of those tiles must carry the double's number, so in round 1 you're looking for tiles with a 9. If you don't have one on your turn, you draw a tile. If that one doesn't have a 9 either, you pass. Once the fourth arm is down, the table is open.

House rule: many groups play six tiles on the starting double instead of four. Our game uses four. More in variations.

Taking a Turn

Look at the open ends on the table. An open end is any tile end that doesn't have another tile against it.
If you hold a tile with a matching number, play it so the matching ends touch. You play one tile per turn.
If none of your tiles fit, draw one tile from the chicken yard. If it fits, play it right away.
If the drawn tile doesn't fit, or the chicken yard is already empty, you pass.

A 3-5 tile about to be placed against the open 3 at the top — The top arm ends in a 3, so a 3–5 can be played there with its 3 touching.

If you have a playable tile you must play one; you can't draw instead to fish for something better. You're free to choose which tile to play and where, though, and that's where the strategy comes in.

Making a Chicken Foot

Here's the rule that gives the game its name. Whenever anybody plays a double (other than the starting double), it goes down crosswise, sideways to the tile it's attached to. The next three tiles played, by anyone, must be played on that double, each one matching its number. Nobody may play anywhere else until all three are down. Those three tiles are the toes of the chicken foot.

A 7-7 played sideways on the right arm, with three tiles fanning out from it like toes — A 7–7 was played on the right arm, and three tiles with a 7 now fan out from it: a chicken foot.

While a chicken foot is waiting for toes, the usual turn rules apply: if you can't add a toe, you draw, and if that tile isn't a toe either, you pass. In our online game, a yellow note above the table tells you how many toes are still needed.

A well-timed double can be a strong move. If an opponent is about to go out, forcing three toes first may make them draw instead.

Ending a Round

A round ends in one of two ways:

Someone goes out. A player plays their last tile. The round ends at once, even if that tile was a double that never got its toes.
The round is blocked. The chicken yard is empty and nobody can play. Once every player has passed in turn, the round is over.

Scoring

At the end of a round, each player counts the dots on the tiles still in their hand and adds that number to their score. The player who went out adds nothing. The 0–0 is special: it counts as 50 points, so getting rid of it early is a good idea.

For example, if you're left holding the 2–6 and the 4–4, you add 16 points. If you're holding the 0–0 and the 1–3, you add 54.

Winning the Game

After the tenth round, add up each player's points. The player with the lowest total wins. If two players tie for the lowest total, they share the win.

Rules at a Glance

Double-nine set, 4 players, 11 tiles each, 10 rounds.
Each round starts with a double, from the 9–9 down to the 0–0.
Four tiles on the starting double before anything else.
Match numbers, one tile per turn. Can't play? Draw one. Still can't? Pass.
Any double is a chicken foot: the next three tiles go on it.
Round ends when someone goes out or the game is blocked.
Count the dots left in your hand; the 0–0 is 50. Lowest total after 10 rounds wins.