“The hottest new domino game is 150 years old.”
Jim presents All About Sniff as the first comprehensive how-to guide for a game whose rules were largely passed down by word of mouth.
150years of tradition
40+years Jim has played
11practical chapters
Everything one needs to know to master this delightful game
Jim Smartt brings the delightful game of Sniff to domino players of all levels. “If Bridge is the best card game ever invented, Sniff deserves top ranking among domino games.” This AI-based interactive web experience will enable the novice to become proficient and the advanced players to improve their strategy.
Think you know Sniff?Are you good enough to beat Jim?Maybe it is time you gave it a shot. Play Jim →Explore the Boneyard
The boneyard contains all 28 dominoes in a double-six set. Select any face-down tile to reveal it.
Click or tap any domino to reveal it.Based on Jim Smartt’s authoritative source —
All About Sniff
Jim Smartt’s comprehensive guide preserves the rules, examples, scoring, strategy, and traditions that make Sniff distinctive.
All About Sniff
Buy on AmazonJames M. Smartt’s complete guide — the source every rule on this site is checked against.
01 · The rules
Rules of Sniff.
Verified against James M. Smartt's ruleset — the same rules this site's game actually plays by.
02 · Learn to play
Welcome to the table.
The best way to learn Sniff is to read the rules and then play the game. This guided table explains every action, why it was legal, and how it affected the score.
- 1Read the rules
Meet the Sniff, understand the open ends, and learn when the board scores.
Read the rules - 2Play the game
Choose your difficulty level and then learn from the explanation after every move.
Go to the table
Guided Play
Jim will show you all of the right moves - and explain each decision along the way.
03 · Playing against Jim Smartt
Play a full game against Jim.
A real Sniff opponent, built from Jim Smartt’s confirmed ruleset — scoring, the boneyard’s protected reserve, and the true four-direction Sniff spinner all play by the book. Play it two-handed, three-handed, or as partnership Doubles.
Shuffling the deck…