This puzzle is Copyright © 2007 by James Dow Allen

Dominoes Puzzle #1

11116662
00204202
26434655
34605003
52442265
01413135
34553361
   

 
 
111166*62
00204202
2643!4655
34605003
52442265
01413135
3!4553*361
   

A (1-0) near upper left is impossible -- a duplicate (1-0) would be forced in the corner. A nearby (1-1) is impossible -- it would force a duplicate (1-1) adjacent.

The only possible (6-6)'s involve 6*, so it isn't (6*-2). The only possible (3-3)'s involve 3*, so it isn't (3*-5).

The two 3!'s connect only to 0 and 4, so the (3-0) and (3-4) are associated with them, and the remaining (3-0) and (3-4) are impossible.

This means the 3 at right middle is in a (3-5), so the (3-5) at far left is impossible: We've located our first domino.
 
 
11116662
00204202
26*434655
346*0500*3
52442265
01413135*
3455*3361
   

With (3-2) located, and (5-3) partially located, we eliminate other (3-2)'s and (5-3)'s.

The two 6*'s can connect only to 0 and 4, so the (6-0) and (6-4) are associated with them, and the remaining (6-0)'s and (6-4)'s are impossible.

The two 5*'s can connect only to 1 and 5, so the (5-1) and (5-5) are associated with them, and the remaining (5-5) is impossible.

Finally, the 0* cannot be in (5-0) -- there'd be a (2-0) above it and another one below (to avoid duplicating (5-0)). This forces a (0-0) domino, preventing the (0-0) near upper left, and leading to several forces shown in the next diagram.
 
 
11116662
00204202
26434655
34605003
52442265
01413135
34553361
   

The forced (1-0) prevents other (1-0)'s, and leads to a series of simple forces.

With (6-1) and (2-2) located, their alternate sites can be eliminated.

Several simple forces now exist in the lower right as shown next.
 
 
11116662
00204202
26434655
34605003
52442265
01413135
34553361
   

We continue the simple forces.

With (6-5), (2-1) located, their alternate sites can be eliminated.

By now, (5-4) and (6-2) have become single-siters, but having gotten this far without any use of the single-site deduction, let's not start now!

The (5-0) and (6-2) near upper right are forced simply.
 

Other (5-0) sites can be eliminated. This leads to location of (5-2) and (3-0), so their alternate sites are also eliminated. Complete solution quickly follows.

Dominoes Puzzle #1 -- Final solution

11116662
00204202
26434655
34605003
52442265
01413135
34553361
   

 
 

This puzzle is Copyright © 2007 by James Dow Allen