42

About this board game

42, also known as Texas 42, is a four-player partnership trick-taking game played in about 30 minutes with a standard set of 28 double-six dominoes. First released in 1885, it combines bidding, trump declaration, and careful domino play.

Four players form two partnerships and receive seven dominoes each. Players bid for the right to declare trump, with bids ranging from 30 to 42 alongside some special bids. Once the winning bidder names trump, they start the first trick by playing a domino.

The higher end of the first domino played determines the suit for the trick. Players must follow suit when able, but may play any domino if they cannot. The trick goes to the highest trump played; if no trump appears, the highest domino in the led suit wins. The winner leads the next trick.

• 28 double-six dominoes: The complete playing set supports four hands of seven dominoes.
• Partnership play: Two teams compete across each hand and match.
• Bidding and trump: The winning bidder chooses the trump suit and leads play.
• Tricks and count: Points come from captured tricks and valuable domino combinations.

Each round awards one point for every trick won, for a total of seven trick points. Captured dominoes also provide count points: combinations totaling 5 are worth five points, while combinations totaling 10 are worth ten. Together, these scoring opportunities produce a maximum of 42 points in a round.

A match lasts seven hands, or marks. Traditionally, those seven marks are used to write the letters “ALL,” giving 42 a distinctive match structure and a memorable finish.