Cyprus

Cyrus, the dominoes game, is played up to ten players using a double nine domino set. If only 4 players are present, give each player 9 tiles. If 5 are playing Cyprus dominoes, give 8 tiles. For 6 to 7 players, give 7. For 8-9 players, give 6. For ten players give 5 dominoes. It is said the game is harder with more people playing but this might be speculation.

To begin to play the Cyprus game, the player with the 9-9 domino begins. He or she would place the domino down on the center of the table. Each player follows suit until there are 8 'tentacles' or arms of a star projecting out from the first domino.

Now, if a Cyprus domino player can not put down a nine domino as he or she doesn't have one, there is what is called a 'domino graveyard' where various other dominos are sitting. The player would draw a domino and if he can use it, he should. If not, he should hang on to it and his turn is over.

If the graveyard has only one tile left, it should not be drawn at all. If a player goes to the graveyard and only one domino is left, he leaves it there and his turn is over.

After all eight arms are placed, the game continues as dominoes normally does, placing alike tiles together.

If someone dominoes, when someone is left without any dominoes left, he or she scores by adding up all the pips, the 'holes' in the dominos from other remaining players.

If the game stops, meaning everyone has tiles left, and no one can find another move to make, the player with the lowest amount of pips if the winner. He scores by adding up all the other player's pips. Then he subtracts his own number and the result is what he has won.

Once someone reaches 60 points, (or more if predetermined) that player is the winner of Cyprus dominoes.

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