Ever been to a family gathering where everyone’s hunched over a table, excitedly yelling “Chickie Fours!” while arranging dominoes in weird patterns that look like, well. chicken feet? If you’ve witnessed this scene, you’ve stumbled upon one of the most entertaining domino games around Chicken Foot (or Chickenfoot, depending on who you ask).
As a domino enthusiast who’s spent countless hours playing this game with friends and family, I’m excited to share everything you need to know about this addictive tabletop pastime. Let’s dive into the world of Chicken Foot dominoes!
The Basics: What Exactly IS Chicken Foot?
Chicken Foot (also called Chickenfoot Chicken-Foot Dominoes, or Chickie Dominoes) is a fun easy-to-learn domino game in the “Trains” family. It was invented by Louis and Betty Howsley back in 1986, and has been bringing families together around kitchen tables ever since.
The game gets its quirky name from the distinctive pattern created when players add dominoes to a double tile – it looks just like a chicken’s foot with three “toes” sticking out!
What makes Chicken Foot special is its blend of strategy and luck. Unlike some domino games that can get complicated, Chicken Foot is straightforward enough for kids to learn but engaging enough to keep adults entertained for hours.
What You’ll Need to Play
Before we get into the nitty-gritty rules. let’s make sure you’ve got everything you need
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A set of dominoes: Most people play with a double-9 set (55 tiles), but you can use:
- Double-6 set for 2-3 players
- Double-9 set for 4-7 players
- Double-12 set for larger groups or longer games
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Players: Anywhere from 2 to 12 can play, but 4-7 players is ideal
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Optional equipment:
- Scorepad and pencil
- Center hub (some players use these to hold the starting domino)
Now, let’s get clucking! I mean… playing!
How to Play Chicken Foot: The Complete Rules
Setup
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Shuffle the dominoes by turning them all face down and mixing them around. My family calls this “washing the dishes” – don’t ask me why!
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Draw your starting hand based on how many players you have:
- 2 players: 21 tiles each
- 3 players: 14 tiles each
- 4 players: 10-11 tiles each
- 5 players: 8 tiles each
- 6 players: 7 tiles each
- 7 players: 6 tiles each
- 8 players: 5 tiles each
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Place unused dominoes to the side to form what’s called the “chicken yard” or “boneyard” (the draw pile).
Starting the First Round
Chicken Foot is played in rounds, with each round centered around a specific double domino. The game typically starts with the highest double (double-9 in a standard set) and works its way down in subsequent rounds.
For the first round:
- The player with the highest double (usually double-9) places it in the center of the table.
- If no one has it, players take turns drawing from the chicken yard until someone finds it.
Basic Gameplay
The goal is simple: be the first to play all your dominoes or have the fewest points left in your hand when the round ends.
On your turn:
- Play a matching domino if you can. The end of your domino must match the number on an available end in the layout.
- Draw from the chicken yard if you can’t play. If the drawn tile matches, you can play it immediately.
- Pass if you still can’t play after drawing.
The “Chicken Foot” Feature
This is where the game gets its name and most of its fun!
When you play a double domino during regular play:
- Place it with its long side against the matching end of another domino
- Announce “Chickie [Number]!” (like “Chickie Fours!” for a double-4)
- This creates a chicken foot that requires three matching dominoes to be played before anyone can play elsewhere
- The three dominoes form the “toes” of the chicken foot
The resulting pattern looks like a chicken foot – one domino connected on one side and three “toes” on the other side.
Until all three “toes” are placed, no one can play anywhere else! This can really change the game’s momentum and creates lots of fun tension.
Ending a Round
A round ends when:
- One player plays their last domino, or
- No one can make a legal play and the chicken yard is empty
When the round ends, players count the spots (pips) on the dominoes left in their hands. These become your points for the round – and in Chicken Foot, lower scores are better!
Some special scoring rules:
- If you play a double as your last domino, you get 50 penalty points (ouch!)
- If you’re holding the double-blank when the round ends, that’s another 50 point penalty
Subsequent Rounds & Winning
After each round:
- Shuffle all dominoes again
- Start the next round with the next highest double (double-8, then double-7, etc.)
- Continue until you’ve played a round with each double, ending with double-blank
After all rounds are complete, the player with the lowest total score wins the game!
Why I Love Chicken Foot (And You Will Too!)
I’ve been playing domino games since I was a kid, but Chicken Foot has always been my favorite for family gatherings. Here’s why:
- It’s accessible: My 8-year-old niece picked it up in minutes, but my strategy-loving brother-in-law still finds it challenging
- It creates memorable moments: The chicken foot formations cause delightful chaos
- It has just enough strategy: You need to think about when to play your doubles
- It keeps everyone engaged: Even when it’s not your turn, you’re planning your next move
One of my favorite memories is watching my typically serious dad gleefully announce “Chickie Twos!” while slapping down a double-2 that completely disrupted my mom’s carefully planned strategy. The look on her face was priceless!
Strategy Tips From a Chicken Foot Enthusiast
After many, many games (and some embarrassing losses), I’ve picked up some tips:
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Save your matching tiles: If a chicken foot forms with fives, hang onto your other fives for when you really need them
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Use doubles strategically: Playing a double when someone’s down to their last few tiles can prevent them from going out
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Watch what others play: This helps you guess what dominoes they might have left
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Don’t save doubles for last: Remember the 50-point penalty!
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Avoid holding the double-blank: That 50-point penalty can ruin your score
Common House Rules and Variations
Like many family games, Chicken Foot has developed some interesting variations:
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Mexican Train hybrid: Some families combine elements of Mexican Train with Chicken Foot
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Hub variations: Some people use a 6-spoke hub instead of the standard 4 directions
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Scoring variations: Some groups score the double-blank as 0 rather than 50
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Draw limit: Some only allow drawing one tile, while others let you draw until you can play
In my family, we have the “Rooster Rule” where if you play a double as your last tile but shout “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” before anyone catches you, you avoid the 50-point penalty. It makes for some hilarious moments!
Final Thoughts
Chicken Foot is more than just a domino game – it’s a social experience that brings people together. It’s the perfect balance of simple rules and engaging gameplay that works for almost any group.
Whether you’re looking for a new family game night favorite or something to play with friends over drinks, Chicken Foot deserves a spot in your game rotation. Just be prepared for some excited shouting when those chicken feet start forming!
So gather your dominoes, call your friends, and get ready to play! And don’t forget to yell “Chickie Sixes!” with enthusiasm – it’s part of the fun!
Have you played Chicken Foot before? What house rules does your family use? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
FAQs About Chicken Foot Dominoes
Q: How long does a typical game of Chicken Foot last?
A: With 4 players using a double-9 set, expect about 45-60 minutes for a full game of 10 rounds.
Q: Can kids play Chicken Foot?
A: Absolutely! Kids as young as 6 or 7 can learn the basics, though they might need help with scoring.
Q: What’s the difference between Chicken Foot and Mexican Train?
A: While both are in the “trains” family of domino games, Chicken Foot focuses on the chicken foot formation, while Mexican Train involves creating and maintaining individual “trains” of dominoes.
Q: Do I need a special domino set to play?
A: Nope! Any standard domino set will work, though larger sets (double-9 or double-12) work better for bigger groups.
Q: Where did the name “Chicken Foot” come from?
A: The name comes from the pattern created when three dominoes are played against a double, resembling a chicken’s foot with three toes!
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
| CHICKEN FOOT | MEXICAN TRAIN |
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