Overview

Domino Texas 42 is a trick-taking dominoes game, officially recognized as the state game of Texas.
The name “42” comes from the total number of points possible in each hand: 42.

Equipment

• Domino set: Standard double-six dominoes (28 pieces).
• Players: 4 players, divided into two teams of two.

Object of the Game

The goal is for your team to be the first to reach the number of marks (hands) agreed upon at the beginning of the match.
You can play quick games (one hand) or matches of 3, 5, or 7 marks.
Each “mark” represents one hand won. For example:

• In a 3-mark game, the winning team must finish with an “A”.
• In a 5-mark game, with “AL”.
• In a 7-mark game, with “ALL”.

The Deal

Each player is dealt seven dominoes.

Bidding

Players take turns bidding on the number of points they believe their team can win in a hand.

• The minimum bid is 30 points, and the maximum is 42.
• Each new bid must be higher than the previous one.
• Players can also pass.
• The highest bidder earns the right to choose the trump suit.
• If nobody bids, the dominoes are reshuffled and dealt again.

Trump and Suits

The winner of the bid selects the trump suit:

• 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blank (0), or doubles,
• Or they may choose no trump.

The highest trump played always wins the trick.

Rank of Dominoes

If a number suit (6–0) is chosen as trump:

• The double of that number is the highest domino in that suit.
• Example: If 4’s are trump, the ranking is: 4-4, 4-6, 4-5, 4-3, 4-2, 4-1, 4-0.

If doubles are chosen as trump, their ranking is: 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, 3-3, 2-2, 1-1, 0-0.

Trump Tile Order

Playing Without Trump

If the bidder chooses “no trump”, the highest number of the leading tile becomes the suit for that trick.
Players must follow suit or play any other domino.
The double is always the highest tile.

Trick-Taking Rules

• The player who wins the bid leads the first trick.
• Players must follow suit if possible.
• If unable to follow, they may play a trump or discard.
• The winner of each trick leads the next one.
• The hand ends when either:
  • The bidding team meets its bid, or
  • The opposing team earns enough points to prevent them from doing so.

Points and Scoring

Each hand has 7 tricks, worth 1 point each, totaling 7 trick points.
Additional points come from count dominoes, which are dominoes whose pip total is a multiple of 5.

Thus, there are 42 total points available in each hand.

Scoring the Hand

• Each team earns points equal to the total of:
  • Tricks won, plus
  • 5 or 10 points for each count domino.
• If the bidding team reaches its declared bid, it wins the hand and gains one mark.
• If it fails, the opposing team gains the mark instead.