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- BGG rating
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Le Plateau
- 2–6 players
- 30–120 min
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42
1885
Rules assistance for 42
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 4 players
Rules assistant for 42
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
42 is a board game released in 1885 for 4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by W. A. Thomas and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Team-Based Game, and Trick-taking.
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About the game
42 (or Texas 42) is a game played with a standard set of 28 "Double-Six" Dominos, that is similar to "Trick-taking" card games. Four players in two partnerships are each dealt 7 dominoes. Players then bid for the right to declare trump. The bid goes around once, with bids ranging from 30 to 42, plus some special bids. The winning bidder declares a trump. The object is to win "tricks." The highest domino of each suit is the double. Play is then started by the winning bidder by placing a domino to start a trick. Players must follow suit if possible. The higher end of the domino led determines the suit for that round. If a player cannot follow suit, they can play any domino. The trick is won by the highest trump in the trick, or if it contains no trump, by the highest domino of the suit led. The winner of a trick leads to the next. Scoring for a round is one point per trick (7 tricks) plus the "count". The "count" is determined by dominoes taken that add up to 5 (0-5, 1-4, 2-3) or 10 (6-4, 5-5). They are worth 5 or ten points respectively, giving a total maximum score of 42, and the name of the game. A match is seven hands, or marks. Traditionally, scoring is the seven marks required to write the letters ALL.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- (Public Domain)
- The Embossing Company
- Puremco
Questions and answers
42 supports 4 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for 42 is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 42 for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
42 has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
42 belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Team-Based Game, and Trick-taking. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 42 are: W. A. Thomas. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 42 as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.