How to Play Chicken Foot: A Comprehensive Guide to Dominating the Domino Game

Chicken Foot is a captivating and strategic domino game that’s perfect for family game nights, get-togethers with friends, or even a quiet evening alone. Its blend of luck and skill makes it endlessly replayable. If you’re looking for a new game to learn or just want to brush up on the rules, you’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to become a Chicken Foot master. From the basic setup to advanced strategies, we’ll cover it all.

What is Chicken Foot?

Chicken Foot is a domino game played with a standard double-six (28-piece) domino set. It involves building ‘lines’ of dominoes emanating from a central ‘hub’ or ‘chicken foot.’ The primary goal is to be the player with the lowest score at the end of a predetermined number of rounds (usually 7 or 13). The game combines elements of strategy, forward planning, and a touch of luck, making it fun and engaging for players of all ages and skill levels.

What You’ll Need to Play

• A Standard Set of Dominoes: A double-six set (28 dominoes) is the standard for Chicken Foot.
• At Least Two Players: The game can accommodate 2-7 players, though it’s generally most enjoyable with 3-6.
• Paper and Pen or a Scorekeeping App: For keeping track of everyone’s scores across multiple rounds.
• A Flat Playing Surface: A table or even the floor will do.

Setting Up the Game

Proper setup is crucial for a smooth game. Here’s how to get started:

1. Shuffle the Dominoes: Place all the dominoes face down and mix them thoroughly. This ensures random distribution.
2. Draw Dominoes: The number of dominoes each player draws depends on the number of players:
   • 2 Players: Each player draws 10 dominoes.
   • 3-4 Players: Each player draws 7 dominoes.
   • 5-7 Players: Each player draws 5 dominoes.
3. Form the “Bone Yard”: The remaining dominoes are left face down to form the “bone yard”. Players will draw from here during the game if they can’t play a domino from their hand.
4. Determine the Starting Player: The person with the highest double domino in their hand (double-six being the highest) starts the game. If no one has a double, the player with the highest domino starts, and if no one has a single domino, all the dominoes are gathered and reshuffled.

The Game Play: Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a detailed look at how to play Chicken Foot. Each round revolves around playing dominoes to build a “chicken foot” of branching arms from a central double.

Round One: The Double-Six Start

1. The Starting Player Plays the First Domino: In the first round, the player with the double-six places it face up in the center of the playing area. This starts the first round and acts as the ‘hub’ for the Chicken Foot. If no one has a double-six, you will proceed to the next highest double (double-5, double-4, etc.).
2. Building the “Arms”: The player to the left of the starting player (or the next player after the starting player is done) plays a domino that matches one of the sides of the double-six. They have to play on an open end of the double in one direction. They must attach it to the double-six such that one matching side touches the six on the double. If they can’t play a domino, they draw one from the bone yard. If they can play a newly drawn domino, they play it; if not, their turn passes to the next player.
3. Continuing Around the Table: Each player in turn proceeds around the table. They must make sure the domino is connected to the free side of the double domino or any of the already played dominoes and must be of a matching number to the end of the domino they intend to build off of.
4. Forming the “Chicken Foot”: After the player who went second has placed their domino to begin the first arm, they and all other players (until they are all done playing) each add one domino to a single arm. They must add it such that one side of the domino is of matching number to the exposed end of the domino they are connecting to. Only after every player has added to a single arm, the next arm is started.
5. Completing the Round: Once each player has added a single domino to each of the open arms or has had to pass, the round ends.

Rounds Two Through Thirteen (or Seven)

Every subsequent round proceeds very similar to the first, but with a few key changes:

1. The Starting Double Changes: In round two, the starting domino is the double-five, in round three, double-four, and so on, all the way down to the double-blank. The player with the starting double for the round begins by placing the double down.
2. Building the Arms: Once the double is down, each player must add a domino to an arm of the double. Players can not play a domino on a different arm until all arms have at least one domino on them.
3. Drawing from the Bone Yard: If a player cannot play a domino from their hand, they draw one from the bone yard. If they are able to play the newly drawn domino, they may do so, if not, then their turn is skipped.
4. End of the Round: Each round ends once all players have played on each arm or has been skipped for not having a domino to play.

Scoring

Scoring is quite simple. At the end of each round, players count the pips (dots) on the dominoes remaining in their hand. Here’s how scoring works:

• Count the pips: Add up the total number of pips on the dominoes in each player’s hand. For example, a domino with a 6 and a 4 would count as 10 pips. A double-blank domino counts as zero points.
• Record the Scores: Each player records the total pip count from their hand in their column.
• Cumulative Scoring: The game is played over a number of rounds, each player’s score after each round is added to their previous score. The player with the lowest total score at the end of the game wins.

Strategies for Success

While luck certainly plays a role in Chicken Foot, some smart strategies can improve your chances of winning. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Pay Attention to the Dominoes Played: Keep track of the dominoes that have been played, this allows you to better anticipate which dominoes are likely still in the hands of other players.
• Manage Your Hand: Try to get rid of high-pip dominoes early in the round and hold on to the low-pip dominoes to minimize your end-of-round count.
• Plan Ahead: Anticipate how you will play your dominoes, especially when the numbers are scarce in the play area. Think two or three plays ahead to try to have some dominoes that you can lay.
• Strategic Blocking: Sometimes, it can be useful to play dominoes to make it more difficult for other players to find a match, even if it means holding onto a higher value domino.
• Don’t Get Stuck with Doubles: Try to play the doubles earlier in the round if you can. You can use them to make it harder for other players to play on the branch you start if they don’t have a matching domino. Doubles are worth more points so getting rid of them is a good thing.
• Watch the Bone Yard: If you have been watching what everyone is playing, it might be beneficial to draw from the bone yard if you are trying to find a domino with a specific number.

Variations on the Game

While the standard rules are quite popular, there are some variations you might want to explore to spice things up:

• Different Numbers of Rounds: You can shorten or lengthen the game by playing fewer or more rounds. 7 rounds is a good amount to play a shorter game, 13 is a standard full-length game, but a group can play as many or as few rounds as they want.
• House Rules: It’s perfectly acceptable to introduce your own house rules to tailor the game to your specific group’s preferences. This could involve different scoring systems or specific gameplay changes.
• Partners: Play Chicken Foot with partners, where each pair of players works together to get a lower combined score.

Why Chicken Foot is So Popular

Chicken Foot has become a favorite for many reasons:

• Easy to Learn: The rules are straightforward, making it easy for beginners to pick up the game.
• Engaging Gameplay: The mix of strategy and luck keeps players interested and entertained.
• Social Fun: It’s a great game for social gatherings as it allows for friendly competition and conversation.
• Suitable for All Ages: The game’s rules are simple enough for kids to understand but also provide enough depth to keep adults engaged.
• Portable: You can easily pack up a set of dominoes and play pretty much anywhere, making it a great game to bring on vacations or to casual meetups.

Conclusion

Chicken Foot is a fantastic domino game that offers a perfect blend of strategy and luck. With its easy-to-learn rules and endless replayability, it’s a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. By following the steps in this guide and implementing the strategies discussed, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a Chicken Foot champion. So gather your dominoes, round up your friends or family, and get ready for some fun! Have a great time playing Chicken Foot and may the best player win!