Dominican domino rules
Who Goes First? La Salida
First hand: in many tables, whoever holds the 6-6 opens with it. From the second hand on, who goes first depends on the table, so agree on it before you play.
4 min read
Published July 17, 2026
Updated October 15, 2026
Quick answer
Short answer
In many tables, the player holding the double six opens the first hand with it. From the second hand on, some tables let the winner of the last hand open with any tile, and others move the start one seat to the right. In tournament play (FID rules), the first opener is drawn.
Jump to a section
The player who puts down the first tile is la mano. Who that is changes from table to table, which is why la salida deserves its own explanation.
01.
The first hand: the double six opens
In many tables, the player holding the 6-6 opens the first hand with it. The Bronx Journal reports this from Washington Heights, Wikipedia en español describes it for Dominican domino, and an El Inmobiliario feature says the double six is the tile that 'ordena la partida'. Some tables call the double six el burro.
The same feature adds that 'hay juegos que se pierden después de abrir con el doble seis': opening with it guarantees nothing. In tournament play (FID rules), the first opener is drawn instead.
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In many tables, the holder of 6-6 opens the first hand with it.
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When the double six opens, the first open number is six.
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With four players all 28 tiles are dealt, so someone always holds the 6-6.
02.
From the second hand on: la mano
Once the first hand is over, the table's salida rule takes over. According to Wikipedia en español, the winner of the last hand opens the next one, with any tile.
Other tables move the start one seat to the right each hand, whoever won, as Pagat and EcuRed describe. Both rules are real; what matters is agreeing before the game which one you play.
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Some tables: the winner of the last hand opens with any tile.
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Other tables: the salida moves one seat to the right each hand.
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Agree on it before the first hand.
03.
Why the opening tile matters
When the first tile is not forced, la salida is the one move you choose without answering an end. Pagat's partnership guide advises leading your strongest suit, ideally with a double.
Your partner will notice what you open with, but treat it as a clue, not a message. Dominican players watch that nobody makes señas, as Roberto Guzmán writes in Acento. When the 6-6 is forced, it says nothing about your hand.
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According to Pagat, lead your strongest suit.
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An opening is a clue for your partner, never a seña.
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A forced double six tells your partner nothing.
04.
How FichaFlow handles la salida
FichaFlow's default: the first hand waits for the double six, and after that the winner of the last hand opens. Nobody has to remember whose turn it is to start; FichaFlow keeps it straight.
That matters most in online games, where nobody can settle it by talking over the table.
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First hand: FichaFlow requires the 6-6 opening.
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Later hands: the winner of the last hand opens.
Bring this to the table
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In many tables, the first hand opens with the double six, played by whoever holds it.
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From hand two, the winner of the last hand opens at some tables; at others the start moves to the right.
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Agree on your table's salida rule before the first hand.
Questions from the table
Who goes first in Dominican domino?
In many tables, whoever holds the double six opens the first hand with it. From the second hand on, some tables let the winner of the last hand open, and others move the start to the right.
Does the second hand also start with the double six?
Not at tables where the winner opens: the double six is for the first hand, and later the opener picks any tile.
What if the table prefers rotating the start?
Rotation is a real variant: the salida moves one seat to the right each hand, whatever the result. Agree on winner-opens or rotation before the game starts.
Where this comes from
Want to check the details? These are the references we used.
- Dominó (De palabra en palabra, Roberto Guzmán)
Acento · Accessed October 15, 2026
The player who puts down the first tile is la mano; players watch that nobody makes señas.
- A Return to the Domino Table
The Bronx Journal · Accessed October 15, 2026
Washington Heights tables: whoever has the double six begins.
- Dominó (Dominó de República Dominicana)
Wikipedia en español · Accessed October 15, 2026
The double six opens the first hand, the winner opens the next ones, and the name el burro.
- La tradición del dominó: Porque aquí no se pasa con fichas
El Inmobiliario · Accessed October 15, 2026
Dominican feature: the double six 'ordena la partida', and games can be lost after opening with it.
- Partnership Dominoes
Pagat · Accessed October 15, 2026
The start moving to the right each hand, and the advice to lead your strongest suit.
- Dominó
EcuRed · Accessed October 15, 2026
Cuban encyclopedia describing the start moving to the right each hand.
- Reglamento
Federación Internacional de Dominó · Accessed October 15, 2026
Tournament rules only: the first opener is drawn (Art. 74).
