Domino - The bergen game
The bergen game is a draw game. The similarity of the name to a town in Norway
suggests a relationship but I have been unable to find confirmation.
Number of players
The game is for 2 to 4 players.
about 5 to 10 minutes
One domino game with stones 0-6. However, it is can also be played with larger
Object of the game
The first player to score 15 or more points wins the game.
All bones are shuffled face down. Each player receives 8 bones minus the
number of players. Thus, with 2 players, each player receives 8-2=6 bones.
The remaining bones are left in the middle and are the stock, usually called
boneyard. To start the player with the highest double puts it in the middle.
The turn then rotates to his left.
All bones played must be played to a free end and must match numbers.
The layout always has two open ends, each sprouting from one of the long
side of the starting double.
If a player can not legally play a bone, he must draw from the boneyard untill
he can play. If the boneyard is exhausted, he must pass.
Doublets are placed crosswise as usual.
It is allowed to draw from the boneyard while a player can play a bone.
No bone may be played untill both (in larger sets: all sides) of the initial
double have been played to.
A player scores two points if he makes both ends equal.
A player scores three points if both ends are equal and one of the ends is
The game ends when one player goes domino (plays his last bone) or when all
players have consecutively passed. There are no points to be scored for going
The number of bones dealt at start varies in different parts of the world.
The game can also be played with larger sets, such as the double 9 game or
even the double twelve set. With the double 9 set, play starts with bones
added to both long sides and both short sides of the first middle, thus giving
four branches and four free ends to add a bone to at all times. With the
double 12 set, bones are added to all four sides and all four corners, thus
giving eight free ends to play to.
In some variants, the player going domino scores five points.
Strategies are basically the same as in The Block
Keep your own hand as varied as possible.
Try to deduce what stones other players have in hand.
Try to block other players with a series you've got lots of.
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