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Chicken Foot is a dominoes game where every double sprouts three toes that must be filled before play moves on. It is easy to learn, plays well from two to eight players with the right set, and runs ten short rounds. Here is how to set up, play and score it.
Best set for Chicken Foot: ChickenFoot double-9 color dot dominoes
A double-9 set in a travel tin with colored pips, which makes matching easier. It costs about $20.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Check today’s price on Amazon
What you need for Chicken Foot
- A double-9 domino set (55 tiles) for two to four players.
- A double-12 set (91 tiles) for larger groups.
- A scorepad and pen. Scores carry across all rounds.
- A big table. The layout spreads in every direction.
Setting up Chicken Foot
- Shuffle the tiles face down. This pile is the chicken yard.
- Each player draws a hand. A common count is seven tiles each for three or four players and nine each for two players with a double-9 set; larger groups and bigger sets use smaller hands.
- Stand your tiles on edge so only you can see the pips.
- In round one, the player holding the double-9 places it in the center. If nobody has it, players draw from the chicken yard until it appears.
How a Chicken Foot turn works
- Play moves clockwise. On your turn, place one tile so its end matches an open end in the layout.
- The starting double must get a tile on all four sides before anyone plays anywhere else.
- If you cannot play, draw one tile from the chicken yard. Play it if it fits; otherwise your turn passes.
- If the chicken yard is empty and you cannot play, you simply pass.
The chicken foot rule
When a player adds a double to the layout, it goes crosswise and the player calls out "chicken foot." The next three tiles must be played on that double, angled away from it like the toes on a chicken's foot. No one may play anywhere else until all three toes are in place. After that, any open end is fair game again.
This rule is what makes the game. A double can lock the table for a few turns, so holding a double until the right moment is the main strategy.
Ending a round and scoring
- A round ends when one player places their last tile or when no one can play.
- Everyone else counts the pips on the tiles left in their hand and adds that to their score.
- The double-blank is worth 50 points if it is stuck in your hand.
- Low score wins. After the last round, the player with the fewest total points wins.
How many rounds?
With a double-9 set you play ten rounds. Round one starts with the double-9, round two with the double-8, and so on down to the double-blank. With a double-12 set, start at double-12 for thirteen rounds or stop early for a shorter evening.
Chicken Foot strategy tips
- Play heavy tiles early. Big pip counts hurt most when the round ends.
- Dump the double-blank fast. Fifty points can decide the whole game.
- Save a double for a block. Forcing three toes can stall a player close to going out.
- Watch the chicken yard. When it is nearly empty, blocking becomes more powerful.
Choosing a domino set
The ChickenFoot double-9 tin (about $20) is the easy pick for families. For bigger groups, a Puremco double-12 set (about $31) plays both Chicken Foot and Mexican Train. Our Mexican Train rules explain the other game you can play with the same tiles.
Common Chicken Foot mistakes
- Playing elsewhere before the toes are filled. All three toes come first.
- Forgetting the four-sided start. The center double needs all four sides covered before branching out.
- Drawing more than one tile. If the drawn tile does not fit, the turn passes.
- Scoring the winner. The player who goes out scores zero for that round.
Write the starting double for each round at the top of the scorepad before you begin. With ten rounds, it is easy to lose track of whether the next round starts with the double-4 or the double-3, and the list doubles as a progress tracker for impatient players.
Chicken Foot dominoes FAQ
How many tiles does each player draw?
Rules vary by set and player count. Seven each for three or four players with a double-9 set is the most common table rule.
Does the first double need four or six tiles around it?
Most rules use four sides. Some families play a double chicken foot with three toes on each long side; agree before you start.
What is the double-blank worth?
Fifty points if it is left in your hand at the end of a round.
How long does a game of Chicken Foot take?
About an hour for ten rounds with four players.
