Tri-Ominos
Officially Tri-Ominos (Pressman Toy)
TRIANGULAR DOMINO variant using 56 EQUILATERAL-TRIANGLE tiles (each with 3 numbers 0-5 at corners). 2-6 players build TRIANGULAR TILE NETWORK matching corner-numbers; score = SUM of played tile's numbers + BONUS for closing HEX (6 tiles sharing center point). Invented 1965 by ALLAN COWDERAY (USA); popularized by PRESSMAN TOY 1970s+. Regular Tri-Ominos deck goes 0-0-0 through 5-5-5. Rules simple, appeals to strategy-lite domino fans + kids/families.
Quick facts
Category
Tile Games
Type
Individual
Players
2–6
Duration
~30 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Invented 1965 by Allan Cowderay (USA); commercialized 1968 by Pressman Toy Corporation (New York); 10M+ sets sold globally; deluxe travel + Tri-Ominos 200 variants (goes up to 9-9-9 with 220 tiles).
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Score MOST POINTS by placing tiles + closing HEXES + racing to empty hand.
Rules
Basic rules
SETUP: Shuffle 56 tiles FACE-DOWN; DEAL 9 (2p), 7 (3-4p), or 6 (5-6p) to each player; rest = BONEYARD (draw pile)
Signature deal + boneyard.
FIRST TURN: player with HIGHEST 3-of-a-kind (5-5-5 if held) plays it face-up to start network + scores its 15 points (5+5+5)
Signature high-triple opening.
TURN: play 1 TILE onto network — tile's TWO NUMBERED CORNERS must MATCH the two exposed numbers where placed
Signature 2-corner match rule.
SCORE: player scores SUM OF TILE'S 3 NUMBERS (e.g., 2-3-5 = 10 pts) + BONUSES for completing hexes/bridges (25-50 pts)
Signature sum-plus-bonus scoring.
HEX BONUS: complete a 6-tile HEX (all sharing central point) = 50-POINT BONUS
Signature 50-point hex bonus.
BRIDGE BONUS: play tile connecting two previously-separate networks = 40-POINT BONUS
Signature 40-point bridge bonus.
DRAW IF STUCK: if can't play, draw from BONEYARD; must play if drawn tile fits; if empty, pass turn
Signature draw-if-stuck rule.
END ROUND: FIRST player to play LAST TILE bonuses +25 pts + OPPONENTS'S remaining tiles subtracted
Signature first-empty +25 bonus.
GAME: play to 400 POINTS (default); can also play best-of-3 rounds
Signature 400-point game.
Scoring
Tile value + hex/bridge bonuses; first-empty +25; opponents' remaining tiles as penalty.
Win condition · First to 400 points.
Equipment
TRI-OMINOS SET: 56 EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE TILES (with numbers 0-5 at each corner)
Signature 56-tile triangular set.
SCORE PAD + PEN
Standard score-keeping.
OPTIONAL: DELUXE 200-TILE SET (numbers up to 9-9-9)
Standard deluxe variant.
Terminology
- Corner
- One of 3 numbered corners of triangular tile.
- Boneyard
- Draw pile of unused tiles.
- Hex
- 6-tile hexagonal cluster sharing central point — 50 pt bonus.
- Bridge
- Tile connecting two separate networks — 40 pt bonus.
- Match
- Tile's 2 corners must match exposed numbers on network.
- 5-5-5
- Highest 3-of-a-kind tile — starts round + 15 pts.
- Pressman Toy
- US commercial publisher — makes Tri-Ominos + other Pressman-brand tile games.
Major competitions
No formal championships; casual family + travel game
n/a · USA + international · since 1965
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Pressman Toy Corporation (publisher)
Founded 1922 · New York, NY, USA
Goliath (parent company)
Founded 1980 · Culemborg, Netherlands
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- No professional scene; casual family + travel game
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Triominoes— Wikipedia
- Pressman Toy — Tri-Ominos official— Pressman Toy