How to Play Bendomino

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Bendomino is a domino-style tile game played with a set of curved, banana-shaped pieces. Because each tile bends to one side, the growing chain can only extend in directions where a new tile physically fits without overlapping a piece already on the table. That one constraint transforms a familiar matching game into a spatial puzzle that keeps every turn interesting.

It plays quickly, travels easily, and works at a kitchen table with two players or as a lively four-player game. The rules take minutes to learn, but managing the chain's curve and denying opponents useful ends gives the game real tactical depth.

A little history

Bendomino was designed by Thierry Denoual and published in 2007. Beyond those documented facts, the wider origins of its bent-tile concept are not extensively recorded; it emerged as a modern designer game rather than from a long folk tradition, and its rules as played today reflect the original published edition.

Setting up

1. Place all 28 tiles face-down on the table and shuffle them thoroughly.
2. Each player draws their starting hand: 6 tiles each for 2 players; 5 tiles each for 3 or 4 players.
3. Leave the remaining tiles face-down as the boneyard.
4. The player holding the highest double places it face-up in the centre of the table to start the chain. If no player holds a double, the player holding the highest single tile begins instead.
5. Play then passes clockwise.

How to play

1. On your turn you must add one tile from your hand to either open end of the chain, matching the pip value on the adjoining half of the tile already there.
2. Before placing a tile, check physical fit: the curved shape means a tile that matches numerically may still be blocked because it would overlap another tile already on the table. A tile that cannot fit physically without overlapping is not a legal play at that end, even if the numbers match.
3. If both ends of the chain are numerically open but one or both are physically blocked, you may only play to an unblocked end.
4. If you cannot play any tile from your hand to any legal end, you must draw one tile from the boneyard and, if it plays, place it immediately. If it does not play, keep it and your turn ends.
5. If the boneyard is empty and you still cannot play, your turn simply passes.
6. Play continues clockwise until one player empties their hand (a win by going out) or until the chain is completely blocked and no player can add a tile (a blocked game).
7. Doubles are placed crosswise on the chain as in standard dominoes but still count as a single end for matching and physical-fit purposes.
8. You may not pass voluntarily while you hold a tile that legally plays.

Winning and scoring

A player who empties their hand scores the total number of pips remaining in all other players' hands. In a blocked game, the player holding the fewest total pips scores the difference between their pip count and each other player's pip count, added together. Points are tallied after each round and the first player to reach 100 points wins the match. If two players cross 100 on the same round, the higher total wins; if still tied, play another round.

The fine points

The most common dispute concerns physical fit: players sometimes argue about whether a tile truly overlaps or merely touches another. The standard ruling is that any contact between the body of a newly placed tile and any tile already on the table counts as an illegal overlap, and the placement is not permitted. When in doubt, slide the new tile into position slowly; if it cannot lie flat without resting on an existing tile, it is blocked.

A second frequent question is whether a player who draws from the boneyard and picks a tile that does not play must show it to the table. The standard ruling is yes: draw the tile openly so other players can confirm it does not legally fit either end. This prevents disputes about whether a draw was genuine. Also note that once a tile is placed on the chain it cannot be retrieved or repositioned, even if the player immediately realises they made a strategic error.

How to win more often

• Track which pip values are physically blocked rather than just numerically unavailable. Controlling the direction of the chain can cut off an opponent as effectively as holding the right numbers.
• Hold doubles back when possible. Because a double occupies both halves with the same value, playing it at the right moment can leave an opponent with no legal end to use.
• Keep your hand varied across pip values early on. A hand full of high doubles looks powerful but becomes a liability if those ends get blocked.
• Count tiles in the boneyard. Once it is empty, you know exactly which tiles are in opponents' hands based on what has been played, which lets you target the ends they cannot match.
• When you can choose between two legal plays, prefer the one that leaves the chain pointing in a direction that physically blocks the most tiles from your count of remaining pieces.

Variations

Partnership Bendomino

With four players, pair into two teams of two sitting opposite each other. Partners combine their scores each round, and a player going out earns points for their team based on both opponents' remaining pip totals. Communication between partners about hand contents is not permitted during play.

Draw Five

Each player draws five tiles regardless of player count. This creates larger boneyards, longer games, and more dramatic chain developments. Recommended when all four players are experienced and want a longer session.

Muggins

When the sum of the open ends of the chain is a multiple of five, the player who created that position scores those points immediately. This adds a scoring layer mid-round and rewards players who watch the pip totals at both ends of the chain, not just their own hand.

Speed Bendomino

Play with a strict ten-second turn limit enforced by any player calling time. A player who exceeds the limit without playing must draw a penalty tile from the boneyard. This suits groups who find standard play too deliberate and works particularly well with younger players.

Bendomino: frequently asked questions