Answer: play the four-trey, keep the nickel
Puzzle
The double-four already wins. Playing the four-ace just hands West five points on a trick you cannot take.
Blog
Puzzles, a little history, and word when a tournament night is on the calendar.
Don't feed them the four-ace
Puzzle
West bid 30 in fours and led the double-four. You still have the four-ace and the four-trey. Which four do you play?
Why they call it forty-two
History
The Handbook of Texas says the name comes from the forty-two points in a hand. Here is that line, and what it does not spell out.
Kitchen-table rules that wander
History
Some of what you were taught is in a book or a bylaw. Some of it is just how your people play. This note keeps those apart.
Answer: the double-ace, not the dime
Puzzle
Lead the double-ace. The six-four and the double-five are offs, and an ace can take them.
Lead the boss ace
Puzzle
You bid 30 in aces. Two dimes are in your hand, and neither one is an ace. What is the lead?
The book that wrote it down
History
For a century the game moved by mouth. The Handbook says the first real book was Winning 42, in 1997.
Answer: play the six-trey, keep the nickel
Puzzle
The double-trey already wins. Playing the trey-deuce just hands them five points.
Don't feed them the nickel
Puzzle
West bid 30 in threes and led the double-trey. You still have the trey-deuce. What do you play?
Named the state domino game
History
On June 17, 2011, the governor signed the resolution that named 42 the official State Domino Game of Texas.
Answer: walk the double-six
Puzzle
Lead the double-six. The six-four is a dime, but the six-five still beats it.
Where forty-two came from
History
The Handbook of Texas puts the game in Garner in 1887. Here is what that entry actually says, and what is only table talk.
How do you walk the six?
Puzzle
A kitchen-table hand. You bid 31 in sixes, and both dimes are in your hand. What do you lead?
Howdy from Texas 42
News
Howdy from texas42.live — the official home of Texas 42, partnership dominoes you can play online.