Q&A for How to Play Moon (Domino Game)

It's called "follow me." There are no trumps. If the bidding team loses the lead, the only way to get it back is to win a trick from the opposing team.

You can go over. If both teams (for 4 player) or two people (for 3 player) get out, the person/team who made their bid wins -- also called "Bidder goes out." For example, let's say team A has 18 and team B has 20. Team A makes their 4 bid, and has 22 points. Team B picks up the other 3 tricks and has 23 points, but since team A won their bid, they are the winner of the game even though they have fewer points.

The number of rounds in Moon varies based on player preferences or agreed-upon rules. Some play a set number of rounds, while others play until a player reaches a certain point threshold. Typically, players aim to avoid points by shooting the moon or avoiding tricks, continuing until the end condition is met.

Players typically bid on the number of tricks they believe they will take during the round. If you successfully take the number of tricks you bid, you win the round. If not, you may incur penalties, such as receiving points or performing certain actions. The specifics can vary based on house rules or agreements among players, so establish clear rules before starting the game.

In a three-player game of Moon Dominoes, a "double zero" refers to a double blank domino, which has both ends showing zero pips. This domino cannot start a trick and can only be played as a last resort or if it matches the lead domino, adding strategic complexity to the game.

In the game of Moon, if one player shoots the moon and then another player shoots the moon over them, the second player's successful moonshot overrides the first. Whether this counts as two separate games won depends on the specific rules agreed upon by the players. Some groups may consider each successful moonshot as a separate game won, while others may only count the final successful moonshot.

No. A bid of 21 implies that you will take no tricks in the round, which is not possible with a negative score.

In the standard version of Moon Dominoes, there are no trumps. However, some variations may include the option to designate a trump suit, which affects gameplay. If you're playing with trumps, the rules should be specified before the game begins.

No, the round ends immediately. If any player takes a trick before the bidder, the bid is unsuccessful, and the round concludes.

If one player goes out with a score of -21 by shooting the moon and taking no tricks, they win the round because they achieved their bid.

The round ends without any bidding. No points are awarded, and a new round begins with a fresh deal of dominoes.

Yes, just as in any other valid play. The strategy and objective of the game will determine if playing a domino with a total pip count of 7 is advantageous.

That player must return the extra dominoes to the draw pile without looking at them. The game then continues with the remaining players taking their turns as usual.

To play "Nolo" Moon Dominoes, you follow the basic rules of standard Moon Dominoes with one key difference: players cannot play a domino with a total pip count of 0. This rule adds strategy, as you must be mindful of the dominoes you play and the potential for opponents to force you to take tricks with low-value dominoes.

Whether doubles catch other doubles or require you to follow suit depends on the game you're playing. If doubles aren’t trump, they usually follow normal rules. Generally, you must follow the suit of the first card played, even if it’s a double, unless you can’t. Whether doubles have special privileges or catch other doubles depends on the specific game rules, so check the rules for your version of the game.

In Moon Dominoes, you cannot trump a double six with two sixes in your hand unless one of them is a trump. If neither of your sixes is a trump, they cannot override the double six. The ability to trump depends entirely on whether you have a tile that matches the designated trump suit for that round.

If no player bids at least 4 tricks, the cards are usually reshuffled and redealt by the same dealer, allowing the game to proceed with a new hand and another chance for players to place their bids.

Going low in a 4-player game of Moon means playing cautiously to avoid taking tricks with high point cards and discarding high point cards whenever possible. Strategies may vary based on the version of the game and house rules.

In the Moon Game (Domino), if the trump is 5 and you have a 6-5 tile, you do not have to play it, but you can if you choose. Since the trump is 5, you can play any tile that matches either the number on the open end of the domino chain or the trump number. If 6-5 is your only tile, you would have to play it, but if you have other tiles that fit the open end, you can play those instead.

If the game is blocked and there is a tie in the pip count, it's generally considered a draw. No points are awarded, and a new round begins.

No, you have to be positive in order to shoot the moon in this game.