How to Play Moon (Domino Game)

Last Updated: June 2, 2021

Moon is a simple trick-taking domino game for 3 or 4 players, although 3 is better. It was popular in Texas and is thought of as a simple variant of Texas 42.

Game Information

Players: 3 or 4
Domino Type Needed: Western
Dominos Needed: Double 6
Type: Trick-Taking
Game Length: <5-10mins

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Method 1: 3-player Moon

1
This game uses the Double 6 set, but without every tile (except for 0-0) in the 0 suit, making a total of 22 tiles. The tiles are divided into 7 suits; 0s, 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s and 6s. The double is the highest tile in the suit, so for the 2 suit, the order is 2-2, 2-6, 2-5, 2-4, 2-3 and 2-1, highest to lowest.
2
Have each player draw a hand of 7 tiles. The remaining tile is placed face down on the middle of the table.

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3
Start bidding. The first bidder is determined and then the bidding will go round in a clockwise direction.
- The bids can be "pass" (no bid), a number between 4 and 7, or 21. Each number bid must be higher than the last (e.g. Player A bids 4, B bids 5, C bids 6). A bid of 21is known as shooting the moon, which is a bid to take all tricks. The bidding stops instantly at this point, and whoever bid 21 wins the auction.
- The winner of the auction (the one with the highest bid) takes the tile from the middle and then discards one tile from his hand face down without showing it.
4
Before the first trick, the auction winner decides the trump out of the following:
- A number from zero to six: If zero is picked, there will only be one trump (0-0), otherwise there will be six.
- Doubles: The trumps will be (highest to lowest): 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, 3-3, 2-2, 1-1 and 0-0.
- No trump: There will be no trump.
5
The auction winner leads any tile to the first trick.
- If the tile played is a trump, the other players must attempt to play trumps as well. If a player doesn't have any trump tiles, they can play any tile.
- If it isn't a trump, then the higher number on the domino played is the suit to be followed. Other players must attempt to play tiles with this suit. If a player can't follow the suit, they can play any tile.
6
Winning tricks. When anyone plays a trump, they highest trump wins the trick. If no trump is played, the highest ranked tile played wins the trick.
- The winner of this trick stacks the three tiles of the trick face down in front of them and then leads any tile to the next trick.
- The game continues like this until all the cards have been played.
7
Scoring the game. The game ends when someone reaches 21 points.
- If a bid is successful (number of tricks won is more than bid, or if 21, all seven tricks are won), the bidder scores the amount of the bid. If they don't win, they lose that amount of points.
- The other two players score one point for each trick won.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Method 2: 4-player Moon

1
The full double 6 set of 28 tiles is used. They are shuffled face down and seven are given to each player.
2
Create two teams of two players.
3
Bidding and play is the same as 3-player Moon.
4
Scoring. The bid is won if the total number of tricks won is equal to or more than the bid. In this case, the bidding team wins the number of tricks won. If they lose the bid, they lose the amount of the bet. The other team wins a point for each trick they have won.
5
The first team to reach 21 points wins.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

3-player Moon Variations

1
The 0-0 can be removed from the game entirely.
- Some play that the bidder must choose the trumps before looking at the face down tile in the middle. After naming trumps the bidder takes the middle tile and discards the same or a different tile face down before leading to the first trick.
- Some games score with Marks instead of points. If the bidder wins they score a mark, otherwise the others score a mark each. The first to 7 wins.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

4-player Moon Variations

1
In some games, during the bidding, if 3 out of the 4 players pass, the fourth must bid 4.
- In some games, the minimum bid is 3, rather than 4. In other games, the minimum bid is 5.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I bid just doubles?

Community Answer

It's called "follow me." There are no trumps. If the bidding team loses the lead, the only way to get it back is to win a trick from the opposing team.
Question

To win, do I have to score exactly 21 or can I go over?

Community Answer

You can go over. If both teams (for 4 player) or two people (for 3 player) get out, the person/team who made their bid wins -- also called "Bidder goes out." For example, let's say team A has 18 and team B has 20. Team A makes their 4 bid, and has 22 points. Team B picks up the other 3 tricks and has 23 points, but since team A won their bid, they are the winner of the game even though they have fewer points.
Question

If a player's score is the negative, can that player shoot the moon?

Community Answer

No, you have to be positive in order to shoot the moon in this game.