1 year ago
Sat Jan 11, 2025 9:35pm PST
Texas 42 – A unique domino game and cultural icon [video]
My family all used to play dominoes all night when I was a kid and visited family in Texas, but I never learned. I recently reached out to find out which game they played. That's when I learned apparently the entire state plays 42. It's big over there.

I'm reading a book on it now and the history is that it was invented by some boys in the late 1800s that liked to play cards, but weren't allowed to for religious reasons. As a result, they ended up creating a game that is kind of like bridge (4 players where your partner sits across from you), but for dominos (a religious loophole). It is definitely more complex than I expected.

I'm not sure if anyone else on HN is from Texas and plays, but I'd love to hear any stories.

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