Need to take a break from gunslinging in Red Dead Redemption 2? Then you should plop down at your nearest dominoes table and play a few rounds. To beginners it may seem like it has an impenetrable ruleset, but it's actually quite simple. Here's what you need to know about dominoes in Red Dead Redemption 2.
First, you'll need to find a place to play. Domino tables can be found at Emerald Ranch, Saint Denis, Blackwater, and sometimes at the Gang Camp. There are a few different varieties to the tabletop game, but let's go over the basics first.
The main goal of dominoes to is be the first player to empty their hand. The player with the highest pair will go first. On each turn, players will place a domino down on the table, matching pips together end-to-end. For example, if the opponent lays down a domino that is "6:5," then you can place a domino that is either "6:X" or "5:X." Take a look at the image below to get an idea of what this looks like.
If you can't place a domino, then you'll have to draw from the "boneyard" until you pull a playable domino. The first player to run out of dominoes wins the round and is awarded points equal to the amount of dominos left in their opponents' hand.
A couple variations to the classic game exist in Red Dead Redemption 2 — Draw Dominoes, All Fives, and All Threes.
- Draw Dominoes: Points are only awarded at the end of each round only, first to 60 wins.
- All Fives: Players are also given points when the total pips on the open end of a chain add up to a multiple of five. For example, if your opponent's first move is a "4:5" and you play a "5:6," then the ends of the chain — four plus six — add up to ten. Since ten is a multiple of five, you'll be awarded ten points. Winner is the first to reach 100 points.
- All Threes: Same as "All Fives" but with multiples of three. If the ends of the chain add up to a multiple of three, that player will be awarded extra points. For example, the opponent's first move is a "4:2" and you play a "2:5." Since the ends of the chain — four and five — add up to nine, you'll be awarded nine points. Winner is the first to reach 90 points.
That's all there is to it! Much of the game is based around the luck of the draw, but there is still a lot of strategy to go around. Plan you're moves carefully, always think ahead, and you'll be winning games in no time.