Chickenfoot Dominoes
Quick Guide
Proficiency Grade
Intermediate
Young Children &
Elderly Adults
# of Players
Friendly
2+
Ideal # of Players
6-10
Replay-ability
Low
Strategy Needed
Medium
Amount of Luck
High
Ability to Learn
Easy
How to Play Chickenfoot
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Chickenfoot (also known as Chickie Dominoes) is a variation of the classic game of Dominoes that is played with larger sets and number of people. The objective of the game is to be the first player to play all of their dominoes.
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Setup
The first round starts with the highest double in the set (ie double-12 set would be the double-12 domino). This tile is placed in the centerpiece. Then, the rest of the dominoes are shuffled face down and each player draws a specific number of dominoes, depending on the number of players (see 'Variations'). Any remaining dominoes are left as a draw pile in the 'boneyard' or in this case the "chicken yard."
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Start
Determine the first player. You could choose the oldest player, or the youngest, or it could be perfectly random.
Going clockwise, the next player must play a domino from their hand off the starting double centerpiece. This domino must have a matching end to the starting double. If they do not have one, they draw a domino from the chicken yard and play that if possible. If not, the player says “pass” and the turn moves to the next player. The following player repeats the process of trying to play off the starting double and this continues until all sides of the centerpiece are filled. The amount of centerpiece sides can vary (see 'Variations') but should be determined on the start of each round.
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After all the sides are played off the starting double, plays can continue to any exposed end domino as long as the ends match. If a player is unable to add a domino, then the player must draw a domino from the chicken yard and play that domino immediately if they are able to. Otherwise, they must say "pass" and it is the next player's turn. If there are no dominoes remaining to draw from, then the player says "pass".
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Doubles / Chickenfoots
If a player plays a double, the double must be placed perpendicular to the domino played off of. This is known as the "Chicken Foot" and should be yelled aloud. Then, players must play on this domino until the chain is closed or 'satisfied'. The chain includes three toes (to look like a Chicken Foot!). The Chicken Foot must be satisfied in order to continue the round. If a player cannot complete a toe on the Chicken Foot, they must draw a tile and the next person must then complete the toe.
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Round Scoring
The round ends when a player plays their last domino or when no player can make a legal play. Players then record the scores by counting the number of dots or 'pips' left in their hand from the round. The player that played all of their tiles would get zero for their score. In this game, the double-0 tile is worth 50 points if left in your hand.
Note: A round cannot end in a double. If it does, the player who played a double as their last move gets 50 points.
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Game Ending
The subsequent rounds of play begin with the next highest double (ie for the double-12 set, the next would be the double-11, then the double-10) all the way to double 0. A double-twelve set would have a total of 13 rounds. The starting player will rotate clockwise as well each round.
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When all rounds have been played, the player with the least amount of total points is the winner!
Variations / House Rules
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Player to Domino to Centerpiece Ratios
Chickenfoot domino game is very adaptable for number of players and type of domino set. The larger the domino set, the more people you can play with, just adjust the number of tiles to draw by the number of players and domino set that you are using.
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The number of sides to the centerpiece can also vary. The recommended number of sides is in the below, but feel free to adapt as you would like.
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6-Set = 2 Sides
9-Set = 4 Sides
12-Set = 6 Sides
15-Set = 8 Sides
18-Set = 8 Sides
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Choose the number of tiles to pick in Chicken Foot based on the number of people playing, and the type of domino set:
Uno Rule
In all domino games, our family rule is that you must say "uno!" when you only have one tile left. If someone catches you not saying uno, you must draw two tiles from the boneyard as a penalty.
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Chickie Dominoes
Chickie Dominoes is another name for Chickenfoot Dominoes. The rules are the same, but when a player plays a double, the player then calls “Chickie” plus the numbers played. For example, if a double-2 was played, the player would call “Chickie Twos.”
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First Player = First Double
The player with the "Main Train Engine" for that round places it in the center of the hub (instead of the double being left out of the original boneyard. They are the starting player for that round. If no one has the required Engine then each player simultaneously draws a domino from the boneyard until it is found and a starting player is determined.
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Double-0 Points
The double-0 is worth 0 points, instead of 50.
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Thoughts​
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A large family get together favorite, Chicken Foot has a sense of drinking game vibe to it as you yell out "Chicken Foot!" any time a double is played. This one can be brutal, as an unsatisfied chicken foot can rack up high scores for all players.
It may be a very simple game, but it can be real fun if you have a louder group with lower inhibitions. Also great for kids, as it can make them laugh seeing chicken feet grow and grow. Best to have a large table for this one!
Where to Buy​
Coming Soon