Kozel (Goat Dominoes) online
Kozel, also called Goat, is the classic courtyard domino game of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Four players form two pairs, each holds seven tiles, and the pair that first reaches 101 penalty points loses the match. Play it online with a live partner, not a bot, by the familiar courtyard rules, with a fair deal and automatic scoring.
At a glance
- 4 playerstwo pairs, partners sit opposite each other
- 28 tilesthe double-six set, 7 tiles each
- No drawingif you cannot play, you knock and pass
- To 101 pointspenalty points: whoever reaches 101 first is the "goat"
- The fishwhen nobody can move, the lower total in hand wins the deal
- Every man for himselfalso possible, with 2 to 4 players
How it is played, in short
- Deal. All 28 tiles are dealt out: 7 each, nothing left over. If someone gets five doubles or six tiles of one suit, the tiles are dealt again.
- First move. In the first deal of a match, the player holding the double 11 starts with it. After that, the player who went out last starts.
- Play. Add a tile to one of the two ends of the line by matching numbers. If you cannot play, you knock. If you can play, you must.
- End of the deal. The first player to play their last tile "goes out", and their pair wins the deal. If the line is blocked and nobody can move, that is a "fish": the pair with the lower total in hand wins.
- Scoring. The pair that lost the deal writes down the points left in its hands. The winning pair writes nothing.
- End of the match. The pair that reaches 101 points or more are the "goats". The match is over and their opponents have won.
The complete rules, scoring examples and the "Sea Goat" and "Donkey" variants are on the Kozel rules page.
How we play on PlayElephant
Default table settings:
| Setting | Default |
|---|---|
| Players | 4, two pairs; partners sit opposite |
| Set and deal | 28 tiles, 7 each, no drawing |
| Direction of play | clockwise |
| First move of the match | the double 11 |
| Later deals | the player who went out starts; after a fish, the player who made the last move |
| Two doubles in one move | allowed |
| Who wins a fish | the pair with the lower total in hand; a tie is "eggs" |
| Writing points | the losing pair, from 13 points up |
| 00 and 66 in hand | 25 and 50 points when it is the only tile left |
| The match goes to | 101 points |
- A live partner, not a bot. You play with real people. A bot is clearly marked and only takes the seat of a player who has left.
- Fair play. Before every deal all 28 tiles are shuffled at random and every layout is equally likely. A record of the shuffle is kept, so the deal can be checked.
- The rules are enforced. The server checks every move: you cannot play a tile where it does not fit, move out of turn or pass when you have a move.
- Automatic scoring. The score sheet shows every deal, and the tiles left in hand are shown to everyone when the deal ends.
- Pair rating, pair tournaments and clubs. Kozel is a pair game: play with a regular partner and with friends from your courtyard.
- Other variants. "Sea Goat", "Donkey" and the every-man-for-himself game are described in the rules.