Chicken Foot, also known as Chickie Dominoes, is a fun and easy to learn domino game that can be enjoyed by 2 to 8 players. The goal of the game is to try to get rid of all your dominoes by playing them to the layout on the table before your opponents can do the same. The player with the lowest score at the end of the game wins!
How to Play Chicken Foot
Chicken Foot is played using a standard double nine dominoes set. Here are the rules on how to set up and play a game of Chicken Foot:
Setting Up
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Mix up all 55 dominoes face down on the table and shuffle them
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Have each player draw dominoes to form their hand, keeping the values concealed. The number drawn depends on number of players:
- 2 players – 21 dominoes each
- 3 players – 14 dominoes each
- 4 players – 11 dominoes each
- 5 players – 8 dominoes each
- 6 players – 7 dominoes each
- 7 players – 6 dominoes each
- 8 players – 5 dominoes each
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Place remaining dominoes face down as the “chicken yard” draw pile
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Find the double nine to play first. If no one has it, players take turns drawing from chicken yard until it’s found.
Gameplay
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First player lays down the double nine in the center.
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Going clockwise, players try to match one side of the double nine with a domino from their hand. If they can’t, they draw from chicken yard and play if possible, otherwise pass.
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Once all 4 sides of the double nine are filled, players can play on any open end.
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If a player can’t play, they draw from chicken yard and play if able or pass if not.
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When a double is played, it must be placed perpendicular as a “chicken foot”. 3 more dominoes must be played on the double before any other moves can be made.
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A round ends when a player plays their last domino or when no one can play.
Scoring
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Players score points for dominoes left in hand equal to the number of pips.
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Exception: Double blank scores 50 points. Playing last domino as double scores 50 points.
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Player with lowest score wins the round. Play several rounds until one player has lowest total score.
Helpful Strategies for Chicken Foot
Here are some tips to help you win at Chicken Foot:
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Try to keep track of what dominoes opponents have played to predict what they may have left.
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Save doubles to play when an opponent is down to 1-2 dominoes to force a chicken foot and block them from going out.
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Conversely, if you’re down to 1-2 dominoes, play a double yourself to limit options for opponents to block you.
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Pay attention to the chicken yard so you know what’s already been played.
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Try to plan 2-3 moves ahead to set yourself up for future plays.
Why Chicken Foot is a Great Game
Chicken Foot is a game that can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels. Here’s what makes it such an entertaining domino game:
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Easy to learn rules but still requires strategy. Great for beginners and experienced players.
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Fast-paced gameplay keeps it exciting. Rounds move quickly.
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Chicken foot mechanism adds fun twist to regular domino play.
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Accommodates anywhere from 2 to 8 players. More players = more interactive gameplay.
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Portable and versatile – can be played anywhere with just a set of dominoes.
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Classic game that’s been around for generations but still feels fresh.
So if you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced domino game that anyone can learn quickly, Chicken Foot is a great option! Grab a set of double nine dominoes and give this entertaining game a try at your next game night.
Chicken foot dominoes is a “tree” game, where Mexican Train is a connecting “train” series game Domino games evolve a lot over time, across cultures and languages, and even into the digital era. There are sub-genres and categories of domino games, and in the “Train Family” of domino games four or five popular games exist:
- Honest John
- Mexican Train Dominoes
- Number 9 Train
- Slosh
- Trains
Each of these have their own rules, but they all require “connecting” or linking dominoes end-to-end with matching domino pips. So a 5 matches a 5, for instance, similar to a real series of train cars. On the surface, Chicken Foot Dominoes (sometimes called “chickie dominoes”) and Mexican Train are very similar. But Chicken Foot is technically in the “Tree” game category of dominoes, not a “Train” game. And their histories, background, rules, and even the number of dominoes you typically play with vary significantly.
Chicken Foot vs. Mexican Train – similarities and differences
These are the rough similarities between Chicken Foot vs. Mexican Train. Mexican Train has a set of rules and processes where each player operates with their own private train and a public Mexican Train. Chicken foot has one chain where all tiles are played from a single, shared domino.
| CHICKEN FOOT | MEXICAN TRAIN |
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How to play Chickenfoot Dominoes
FAQ
How do you play the game Chicken Foot?
The starting player must play a matching domino (one with an end of the same value as the double) from their hand on one of the four sides of the double, with the matching end against the double. The next player plays another matching domino on a remaining side, and this continues until all four sides are filled.
Are chicken foot and Mexican Train the same game?
Chicken Foot Dominoes is a “tree” game, whereas Mexican Train is a connecting “train” series game.
What is the story of the chicken feet game?
About This Game
After a giant chicken breaks out of its containment and kills dozens of workers, you are sent in to subdue it. Guided by a voice over the radio, you descend into the facility, luring the Chicken to a place where it can be safely captured. However, the plan quickly goes off the rails.
How many players can play chicken foot?
If you want to try out a classic domino game that’s tons of fun and easy to learn, Chicken Foot is a great option. You can play this game with 2-6 players. The goal of the game is to earn the lowest score by playing as many dominoes from your hand as you can each round. The best part is you can play with any set of dominoes you have!
Is chicken foot a domino game?
A game of Chicken Foot in progress Chickenfoot or Chicken Foot, also called Chicken-Foot Dominoes and Chickie Dominoes, [a] is a Block domino game of the “Trains” family for 2 to 12 players invented by Louis and Betty Howsley in 1986. Chicken Foot is played in rounds, one round for each double domino in the set and is best for 4 to 7 players.
How do you play chicken foot?
Mix up all the dominoes face-down. Chicken foot is usually played with a double-nine set of dominoes, but you can use a standard double-six set if you have 2 or 3 players or a double-twelve set if you want a longer game. Turn all of the dominoes upside-down on the table and mix them around a few times to shuffle them up.