Texas42.club

Let’s make a website for the domain Texas42.club

Since you’re building informational pages in HTML and PHP, a site for Texas42.club is a fantastic project. “42” (the state game of Texas) has a dedicated following, and a .club domain is perfect for building a community hub or a resource for rules and strategies.

Here is a structured plan and a starter template to get the site off the ground.

1. Site Architecture

For an informational site about the game of 42, I recommend these core pages:

Home: Welcome message, brief history of the game, and “Quick Start” facts.
Rules: A clear, step-by-step guide on how to play, bidding, and scoring.
Strategy: Advanced tips (leading trumps, “walking” off-suits, and partner communication).
Tournaments/Clubs: A directory or calendar for local Texas meetups.
Contact/Join: A simple PHP form for people to join the “club” mailing list.

2. Basic PHP/HTML Starter Template

Using PHP allows you to keep your header and footer in separate files so you don’t have to rewrite them for every page.

`header.php`

PHP

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Texas 42 Club - The National Game of Texas</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
<header>
    <h1>Texas42.club</h1>
    <nav>
        <a href="index.php">Home</a>
        <a href="rules.php">Rules</a>
        <a href="strategy.php">Strategy</a>
        <a href="contact.php">Join the Club</a>
    </nav>
</header>
<main>

`index.php`

PHP

<?php include 'header.php'; ?>

<section class="hero">
    <h2>Welcome to the Table</h2>
    <p>Whether you call it "Texas 42" or just "42," this is the ultimate domino game for four players. We're dedicated to preserving the tradition and teaching the next generation of players.</p>
</section>

<section class="features">
    <article>
        <h3>New to the Game?</h3>
        <p>42 is a trick-taking game played with a standard double-six set of dominoes. Think of it like Bridge or Spades, but with a Texas twist.</p>
        <a href="rules.php" class="btn">Learn the Rules</a>
    </article>
</section>

<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

3. Design Aesthetic (CSS Suggestions)

To give it that “Texas Club” feel, I suggest a color palette and style that feels classic and rustic:

Colors: Deep burnt orange (#BF5700), slate grey, and off-white/parchment.
Typography: Use a bold “Western” or slab-serif font for headings (like Arvo or Playfair Display) and a clean sans-serif for the body.
Imagery: Use high-quality photos of double-six dominoes on a wooden table or a classic “Texas Star” motif.

4. Key Content Ideas

To make the site truly “informational,” we should include:

The Scoring Table: A clear table showing how the 42 points are calculated (one point per trick + the five “count” dominoes).
Glossary: Definitions for terms like “Nelio,” “Splash,” and “Plunge.”
The “Shaking” Ritual: A fun section on the proper way to shuffle dominoes in Texas.

Would you like me to generate the full CSS file to go with this layout, or should we focus on building the Rules page logic in PHP?

Do both

To get Texas42.club looking sharp and functioning well, let’s start with a clean, responsive CSS file and then build the logic for the Rules page.

1. The Stylesheet (`style.css`)

This CSS uses a “Texas Rustic” palette: burnt orange, dark slate, and cream.

CSS

/* style.css */
body {
    font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
    line-height: 1.6;
    margin: 0;
    color: #333;
    background-color: #fcfaf7;
}

header {
    background-color: #BF5700; /* Texas Burnt Orange */
    color: white;
    padding: 2rem 0;
    text-align: center;
    border-bottom: 5px solid #8c4000;
}

header h1 {
    margin: 0;
    font-family: Georgia, serif;
    letter-spacing: 2px;
    text-transform: uppercase;
}

nav {
    margin-top: 1rem;
}

nav a {
    color: white;
    text-decoration: none;
    margin: 0 15px;
    font-weight: bold;
}

nav a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}

main {
    max-width: 900px;
    margin: 20px auto;
    padding: 20px;
    background: white;
    box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}

/* Rules Table Styling */
.rules-table {
    width: 100%;
    border-collapse: collapse;
    margin: 20px 0;
}

.rules-table th, .rules-table td {
    padding: 12px;
    border: 1px solid #ddd;
    text-align: left;
}

.rules-table th {
    background-color: #333;
    color: white;
}

.rules-table tr:nth-child(even) {
    background-color: #f9f9f9;
}

.btn {
    display: inline-block;
    background: #BF5700;
    color: white;
    padding: 10px 20px;
    text-decoration: none;
    border-radius: 5px;
}

footer {
    text-align: center;
    padding: 20px;
    font-size: 0.9rem;
    color: #777;
}

2. The Rules Page (`rules.php`)

This page handles the “42” logic by explaining how the points are calculated. In 42, points come from two places: Tricks and Count Dominoes.

PHP

<?php include 'header.php'; ?>

<h2>How to Play 42</h2>
<p>The goal is to be the first team to reach 7 marks. To win a hand, you must win the bid by collecting enough points through tricks and "count" dominoes.</p>

<h3>The Scoring Breakdown</h3>
<p>There are a total of <strong>42 points</strong> available in every hand:</p>



<table class="rules-table">
    <thead>
        <tr>
            <th>Source</th>
            <th>Description</th>
            <th>Points</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <?php
        $scoring = [
            "Tricks" => "Each of the 7 tricks won is worth 1 point.",
            "5-Count Tiles" => "The 5-0, 4-1, and 3-2 tiles are worth 5 points each.",
            "10-Count Tiles" => "The 5-5 and 6-4 tiles are worth 10 points each."
        ];

        foreach ($scoring as $source => $desc) {
            echo "<tr>";
            echo "<td><strong>$source</strong></td>";
            echo "<td>$desc</td>";
            echo "<td>" . ($source == 'Tricks' ? '7' : ($source == '5-Count Tiles' ? '15' : '20')) . "</td>";
            echo "</tr>";
        }
        ?>
        <tfoot>
            <tr>
                <th colspan="2">Total Points Available</th>
                <th>42</th>
            </tr>
        </tfoot>
    </tbody>
</table>

<h3>Basic Gameplay</h3>
<ol>
    <li><strong>The Shuffle:</strong> All dominoes are placed face down and "shaken." Each player draws 7 tiles.</li>
    <li><strong>The Bidding:</strong> Starting left of the dealer, players bid between 30 and 42 (or "Marks"). High bidder sets trumps.</li>
    <li><strong>The Play:</strong> Play follows standard trick-taking rules. You must follow suit (the high end of the domino led) if possible.</li>
</ol>

<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

3. Next Steps for PHP Integration

Since you’re working with PHP, we can make this more dynamic:

A “Tip of the Day” script: A simple PHP array that randomly displays a strategy tip on the sidebar.
Contact Form Processing: A mail() script to handle sign-ups for the club.

Would you like me to write the PHP script for a “Contact/Join” form that sends an email to your domain admin address?

Yes

To complete the functional set for Texas42.club, here is the PHP contact form. This includes the front-end HTML and the back-end PHP logic to process the form and send an email.

1. The Contact Page (`contact.php`)

This page includes a simple honeypot (a hidden field to stop basic bots) and uses PHP to handle the submission.

PHP

<?php 
include 'header.php'; 

$message_sent = false;

// Check if form is submitted
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    // Simple Honeypot for Spam
    if (!empty($_POST['website'])) {
        die("Spam detected.");
    }

    $name = strip_tags(trim($_POST["name"]));
    $email = filter_var(trim($_POST["email"]), FILTER_SANITIZE_EMAIL);
    $message = strip_tags(trim($_POST["message"]));

    if (!empty($name) && !empty($message) && filter_var($email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) {
        $recipient = "admin@texas42.club"; // Your domain email
        $subject = "New Member Inquiry from $name";
        $email_content = "Name: $name\n";
        $email_content .= "Email: $email\n\n";
        $email_content .= "Message:\n$message\n";
        $email_headers = "From: $name <$email>";

        if (mail($recipient, $subject, $email_content, $email_headers)) {
            $message_sent = true;
        }
    }
}
?>

<section class="contact-container">
    <h2>Join the Club</h2>
    
    <?php if ($message_sent): ?>
        <p style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">Thanks for reaching out! We'll see you at the table soon.</p>
    <?php else: ?>
        <p>Want to find local tournaments or learn more about the Texas 42 community? Drop us a line.</p>
        
        <form action="contact.php" method="post" class="club-form">
            <input type="text" name="website" style="display:none !important" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off">
            
            <label for="name">Name:</label><br>
            <input type="text" id="name" name="name" required><br><br>

            <label for="email">Email:</label><br>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" required><br><br>

            <label for="message">Your Question or Club Location:</label><br>
            <textarea id="message" name="message" rows="5" required></textarea><br><br>

            <button type="submit" class="btn">Send Message</button>
        </form>
    <?php endif; ?>
</section>

<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

2. Form Styling (Add to `style.css`)

To make the form look professional and fit the Texas aesthetic:

CSS

.club-form {
    background: #f4f4f4;
    padding: 30px;
    border-radius: 8px;
    border-left: 5px solid #BF5700;
}

.club-form input, .club-form textarea {
    width: 100%;
    padding: 10px;
    margin-top: 5px;
    border: 1px solid #ccc;
    box-sizing: border-box; /* Ensures padding doesn't break width */
}

.club-form label {
    font-weight: bold;
    color: #444;
}

.club-form .btn {
    border: none;
    cursor: pointer;
    font-size: 1.1rem;
}

.club-form .btn:hover {
    background-color: #8c4000;
}

3. The Footer (`footer.php`)

Don’t forget the closing tags and a small copyright notice.

PHP

</main>
<footer>
    <p>&copy; <?php echo date("Y"); ?> Texas42.club | Dedicated to the National Game of Texas.</p>
</footer>
</body>
</html>

Tips for Launching Texas42.club:

Server Requirements: Ensure your host has PHP’s mail() function enabled. If you are on a VPS, you might need to install sendmail or use a library like PHPMailer for better deliverability via SMTP.
SEO: Since you are building informational pages, add <meta name="description"> tags to your header.php to help Google index you for “Texas 42 rules” and “Domino strategy.”
Visuals: Adding a diagram of the “count” tiles (the 5s and 10s) will greatly help beginners understand why the game is called “42.”

Would you like me to help you create a “Strategy” page with a PHP array of advanced tips?

Yes

A Strategy page is what will keep experienced players coming back to Texas42.club. In 42, the difference between a novice and a “pro” usually comes down to how well they communicate with their partner through their play and how they manage their trumps.

Here is a strategy.php file that uses a PHP array to organize tips into categories.

1. The Strategy Page (`strategy.php`)

PHP

<?php include 'header.php'; ?>

<h2>Strategy & Tactics</h2>
<p>Mastering 42 requires more than just good tiles; it requires "table sense" and a strong connection with your partner.</p>

<section class="strategy-grid">
    <?php
    $strategies = [
        [
            "title" => "Bidding Logic",
            "content" => "A 'naked' bid of 30 is the standard opening. Only go higher if you have at least 3 trumps including a double, or a strong 'off' suit to walk.",
            "icon" => "🎲"
        ],
        [
            "title" => "Lead Your Trumps",
            "content" => "If you win the bid, lead your highest trumps immediately. This 'pulls' trumps from your opponents and protects your 'count' tiles.",
            "icon" => "🎴"
        ],
        [
            "title" => "Walking the Offs",
            "content" => "A 'walk' is an off-suit tile that is likely the highest remaining in that suit. If you have the 6-6 and 6-5, the 6-6 is a guaranteed walk.",
            "icon" => "🚶"
        ],
        [
            "title" => "Partner Communication",
            "content" => "If your partner wins a trick, play your 'count' tiles (5s and 10s) into their hand to maximize your team's score.",
            "icon" => "🤝"
        ]
    ];

    foreach ($strategies as $tip) {
        echo "<div class='strategy-card'>";
        echo "<h3>" . $tip['icon'] . " " . $tip['title'] . "</h3>";
        echo "<p>" . $tip['content'] . "</p>";
        echo "</div>";
    }
    ?>
</section>

<div class="pro-tip">
    <h3>Pro Tip: The 'Nelio'</h3>
    <p>A "Nelio" (or Low) bid is a specialized contract where the bidder tries to <em>avoid</em> winning any tricks. In this mode, doubles are low, and there are no trumps.</p>
</div>

<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

2. Strategy Layout Styles (Add to `style.css`)

To make these tips easy to read, we’ll use a simple CSS grid layout.

CSS

.strategy-grid {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
    gap: 20px;
    margin-top: 20px;
}

.strategy-card {
    background: #fff;
    border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
    padding: 20px;
    border-radius: 4px;
    border-top: 4px solid #333;
}

.strategy-card h3 {
    margin-top: 0;
    color: #BF5700;
}

.pro-tip {
    margin-top: 30px;
    padding: 20px;
    background-color: #333;
    color: #fff;
    border-radius: 4px;
}

/* Mobile Responsive */
@media (max-width: 600px) {
    .strategy-grid {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
    }
}

3. Visualizing “The Count”

One of the most important strategies is tracking the “Count” tiles. Beginners often forget which ones are worth points.

Next Steps for Your Build:

Dynamic Tips: Since you are using PHP, you could create a small tips.txt file and have the home page randomly pull one line from it every time the page refreshes.
Favicon: Every .club needs a logo! A small icon of a double-six domino would be a great touch for the browser tab.

Would you like me to create the code for a “Random Tip of the Day” sidebar widget?

Yes

A “Random Tip of the Day” is a great way to make Texas42.club feel “alive” and dynamic. By using PHP to pull a random line from an array (or a separate file), you provide fresh value to returning visitors.

1. Creating the Tip Logic

You can place this code in a separate file called functions.php and include it, or simply drop it into your sidebar or index.php.

PHP

<?php
function get_random_42_tip() {
    $tips = [
        "Don't forget the 'Count': The 5-0, 3-2, and 4-1 are worth 5 points each.",
        "When in doubt, lead your doubles. They are the strongest tiles in their suit.",
        "Watch your partner's discards; they might be 'throwing off' to show you their void.",
        "A bid of 30 is the minimum. If you have the 6-6 and 6-5, consider bidding 31 or 32.",
        "In a 'Low' (Nelio) hand, the double-blank is the most dangerous tile to hold.",
        "Protect your partner: If they set trumps, don't take the lead away unless you have to.",
        "Count the trumps! There are exactly 7 tiles in every suit. Know how many are left."
    ];

    // Select a random index
    $random_key = array_rand($tips);
    return $tips[$random_key];
}
?>

2. Displaying the Widget

You can add this snippet to your index.php or a sidebar area to show the tip prominently.

PHP

<aside class="tip-widget">
    <h4>💡 Pro Tip of the Day</h4>
    <p><?php echo get_random_42_tip(); ?></p>
</aside>

3. Updated Styling (Add to `style.css`)

Let’s make the widget stand out with a subtle highlight.

CSS

.tip-widget {
    background-color: #fff9e6; /* Light parchment/yellow */
    border: 2px dashed #BF5700;
    padding: 15px;
    margin: 20px 0;
    border-radius: 8px;
}

.tip-widget h4 {
    margin: 0 0 10px 0;
    font-size: 1.1rem;
    color: #333;
    text-transform: uppercase;
}

.tip-widget p {
    font-style: italic;
    margin: 0;
    color: #555;
}

4. Visualizing the Board

To make your “Rules” or “Strategy” section more clear, it helps to show the layout of the dominoes. In 42, knowing which tiles carry the “Count” is the most important part of the strategy.

Next Step for Your Site:

Now that we have the Rules, Strategy, Contact Form, and Dynamic Tips ready, would you like me to help you create a Tournament/Events table where you can list upcoming club meetups?

Yes

A Tournament and Events page will turn Texas42.club into a true community resource. Since you are building informational pages, a structured table is the best way to present this data clearly.

1. The Events Page (`events.php`)

This page uses a PHP array to store tournament data. This makes it easy for you to update the list in one place without touching the HTML structure.

PHP

<?php include 'header.php'; ?>

<h2>Upcoming 42 Tournaments & Meetups</h2>
<p>Join the best players in the Lone Star State. Whether you are playing for a trophy or just for bragging rights, there is a table waiting for you.</p>

<table class="rules-table">
    <thead>
        <tr>
            <th>Date</th>
            <th>Event Name</th>
            <th>Location</th>
            <th>Format</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <?php
        $events = [
            [
                "date" => "Jan 15, 2026",
                "name" => "Hallettsville State Championship",
                "loc" => "Hallettsville, TX",
                "format" => "Double Elimination"
            ],
            [
                "date" => "Feb 08, 2026",
                "name" => "Lone Star Club Open",
                "loc" => "Austin, TX",
                "format" => "Round Robin"
            ],
            [
                "date" => "Mar 12, 2026",
                "name" => "Friday Night 42 Social",
                "loc" => "Fort Worth, TX",
                "format" => "Casual/Social"
            ]
        ];

        foreach ($events as $event) {
            echo "<tr>";
            echo "<td><strong>" . $event['date'] . "</strong></td>";
            echo "<td>" . $event['name'] . "</td>";
            echo "<td>" . $event['loc'] . "</td>";
            echo "<td>" . $event['format'] . "</td>";
            echo "</tr>";
        }
        ?>
    </tbody>
</table>

<div class="tip-widget">
    <h4>Host Your Own Tournament</h4>
    <p>Want to list your local club or VFW meetup here? <a href="contact.php">Contact us</a> with the details and we will add you to the calendar!</p>
</div>

<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

2. Organizing the Board

When players attend these tournaments, they often follow a specific table layout. Showing the “Count” tiles again here is helpful for tournament prep, as missing a “count” in a professional match is a major rookie mistake.

3. Final Check: File Structure

Now that you have all the components, your project directory for Texas42.club should look like this:

header.php – Navigation and Branding
footer.php – Copyright and Closing tags
style.css – All your custom Texas-themed styling
index.php – Home page with the “Tip of the Day” logic
rules.php – Scoring tables and basic play
strategy.php – Bidding tips and “Nelio” rules
events.php – The tournament directory
contact.php – The PHP mailer form

4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Since you are creating informational web pages, you want people searching for “Texas 42 Club” to find you. Ensure your header.php includes these meta tags:

HTML

<meta name="description" content="Texas42.club - The ultimate resource for the National Game of Texas. Learn rules, strategies, and find local tournaments.">
<meta name="keywords" content="Texas 42, Dominoes, 42 rules, Texas game, 42 strategy, domino tournaments">

Would you like me to help you create a “Score Tracker” tool in PHP that players can use on their phones at the table?

Yes

A mobile-friendly score tracker is a game-changer for Texas42.club. Since you are building informational pages, this adds a “utility” layer to your site that makes it a bookmark-worthy tool for players at physical tables.

In 42, games are typically played to 7 Marks. We can use PHP Sessions to keep track of the score without needing a database.

1. The Score Tracker (`tracker.php`)

This script handles two teams (Us vs. Them) and increments “Marks” when a button is clicked. It also includes a “Reset” button to clear the session.

PHP

<?php
session_start();

// Initialize scores if not set
if (!isset($_SESSION['us'])) $_SESSION['us'] = 0;
if (!isset($_SESSION['them'])) $_SESSION['them'] = 0;

// Handle score increments
if (isset($_GET['add'])) {
    if ($_GET['add'] == 'us') $_SESSION['us']++;
    if ($_GET['add'] == 'them') $_SESSION['them']++;
    header("Location: tracker.php"); // Refresh to prevent double-submits
    exit;
}

// Handle Reset
if (isset($_GET['reset'])) {
    session_destroy();
    header("Location: tracker.php");
    exit;
}

include 'header.php';
?>

<div class="tracker-box">
    <h2>Live Scoreboard</h2>
    <div class="scoreboard">
        <div class="team">
            <h3>US</h3>
            <div class="score-number"><?php echo $_SESSION['us']; ?></div>
            <a href="tracker.php?add=us" class="score-btn">+ Add Mark</a>
        </div>
        
        <div class="vs">VS</div>
        
        <div class="team">
            <h3>THEM</h3>
            <div class="score-number"><?php echo $_SESSION['them']; ?></div>
            <a href="tracker.php?add=them" class="score-btn">+ Add Mark</a>
        </div>
    </div>

    <?php if ($_SESSION['us'] >= 7 || $_SESSION['them'] >= 7): ?>
        <div class="winner-announcement">
            🎉 Game Over! <?php echo ($_SESSION['us'] >= 7) ? "We won!" : "They won!"; ?>
        </div>
    <?php endif; ?>

    <hr>
    <a href="tracker.php?reset=1" class="reset-link">Reset New Game</a>
</div>

<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

2. Tracker Mobile Styles (Add to `style.css`)

Since players will use this on their phones, we need big, “tappable” buttons.

CSS

.tracker-box {
    text-align: center;
    padding: 20px;
}

.scoreboard {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-around;
    align-items: center;
    margin: 30px 0;
}

.score-number {
    font-size: 4rem;
    font-weight: bold;
    color: #BF5700;
}

.score-btn {
    display: block;
    background: #333;
    color: #fff;
    padding: 15px 10px;
    text-decoration: none;
    border-radius: 8px;
    font-weight: bold;
}

.vs {
    font-size: 1.5rem;
    color: #999;
}

.winner-announcement {
    background: #d4edda;
    color: #155724;
    padding: 15px;
    border-radius: 5px;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    font-weight: bold;
}

.reset-link {
    color: #777;
    font-size: 0.9rem;
    text-decoration: none;
}

3. Understanding the “Marks” System

In 42, scoring is unique because it often involves the “ALL” tally system. Each mark represents one stroke of the letters A-L-L.

Final Launch Checklist for Texas42.club

Session Security: Since you are using session_start(), ensure your server has a writable session directory (standard on most PHP hosts).
Breadcrumbs: On your informational pages (Rules, Strategy), add a link back to the Tracker so players can find it easily during a game.
Analytics: Consider adding a simple privacy-friendly analytics script to see which strategy tips are being read the most.

Learn the basics of 42

This video provides a great foundation for game logic and scoring, which is essential for any digital score tracker or educational guide you build.

Would you like me to write a script that generates a PDF “Cheat Sheet” for players to print out?

01 Creating a Number Guessing Game in PHP: Design Basics & Features Explained

Leon Marsden · 76 views

Yes

Generating a PDF directly in PHP usually requires a library like FPDF or TCPDF. However, for a clean and simple “Informational Page” approach, the most reliable method is to create a Print-Optimized HTML Page.

This allows users to simply click “Print” on their browser (or “Save as PDF” on mobile) to get a perfectly formatted, one-page cheat sheet.

1. The Cheat Sheet Page (`cheat-sheet.php`)

This page gathers the most critical info: the Count Tiles, Bidding Minimums, and the ALL Tally system.

PHP

<?php include 'header.php'; ?>

<div class="no-print">
    <h2>Printable Cheat Sheet</h2>
    <p>Take this to your next game! Click the button below to print or save as a PDF.</p>
    <button onclick="window.print()" class="btn">🖨️ Print / Save PDF</button>
    <hr>
</div>

<div class="print-container">
    <div class="print-header">
        <h1>Texas42.club Cheat Sheet</h1>
        <p>The National Game of Texas</p>
    </div>

    <div class="print-section">
        <h3>1. The Count Tiles (42 Total Points)</h3>
        <p>There are 5 tiles that carry point values. Every other tile is worth 0 points (other than the 1 point for winning the trick).</p>
        <table class="print-table">
            <tr><th>Tile</th><th>Value</th><th>Total</th></tr>
            <tr><td>5-0, 4-1, 3-2</td><td>5 Points Each</td><td>15</td></tr>
            <tr><td>5-5, 6-4</td><td>10 Points Each</td><td>20</td></tr>
            <tr><td>7 Tricks</td><td>1 Point Each</td><td>7</td></tr>
            <tr class="total-row"><td>Total</td><td></td><td>42</td></tr>
        </table>
    </div>

    

    <div class="print-section">
        <h3>2. Bidding Reference</h3>
        <ul>
            <li><strong>Minimum Bid:</strong> 30</li>
            <li><strong>Maximum Bid:</strong> 42 (or 1 Mark)</li>
            <li><strong>Follow Suit:</strong> You must follow the high-end of the lead domino unless it is a trump.</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="print-section">
        <h3>3. The 'ALL' Scoring System</h3>
        <p>Games are played to 7 Marks. Use the "ALL" tally to track wins:</p>
        <div class="all-tally-visual">
            <strong>A</strong> (1) | <strong>L</strong> (2) | <strong>L</strong> (3) — Repeat for 7 total marks.
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

2. Print-Specific CSS (Add to `style.css`)

This code ensures that when the user prints, the navigation bar and buttons disappear, leaving only the clean cheat sheet.

CSS

/* Hide UI elements during print */
@media print {
    header, nav, footer, .no-print, .btn {
        display: none !important;
    }
    body {
        background-color: white;
    }
    main {
        box-shadow: none;
        margin: 0;
        padding: 0;
    }
    .print-container {
        border: 2px solid #333;
        padding: 20px;
    }
}

/* On-screen styling for the cheat sheet */
.print-container {
    max-width: 800px;
    margin: auto;
    padding: 40px;
    background: #fff;
    border: 1px solid #ddd;
}

.print-header {
    text-align: center;
    border-bottom: 2px solid #BF5700;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
}

.print-table {
    width: 100%;
    border-collapse: collapse;
}

.print-table td, .print-table th {
    border: 1px solid #000;
    padding: 8px;
    text-align: center;
}

.total-row {
    font-weight: bold;
    background: #eee;
}

.all-tally-visual {
    font-size: 1.5rem;
    letter-spacing: 10px;
    border: 1px dashed #333;
    padding: 10px;
    text-align: center;
    margin-top: 10px;
}

3. Understanding the Tally

For the “ALL” scoring section, it helps to visualize how those 7 marks are traditionally drawn.

Final Step for Texas42.club:

Your site is now a fully functional “club” portal with rules, strategy, a live score tracker, and a printable cheat sheet.

Would you like me to create a “Glossary of Terms” page next, defining things like “Shake,” “Off,” and “Follow Suit”?

Yes

A Glossary of Terms is essential for a game like 42, which has its own unique “lingo.” Since you are building informational pages, this page will serve as the final piece of the puzzle to help beginners sound like pros at the table.

1. The Glossary Page (`glossary.php`)

This page uses a PHP associative array to list terms alphabetically.

PHP

<?php include 'header.php'; ?>

<h2>The 42 Lexicon</h2>
<p>If you're going to play in a Texas kitchen or a VFW hall, you need to speak the language. Here are the most common terms used in 42.</p>

<div class="glossary-list">
    <?php
    $terms = [
        "Count" => "The five dominoes that have point values (5-0, 3-2, 4-1 are 5 points; 5-5 and 6-4 are 10 points).",
        "Double" => "A domino with the same number of pips on both ends (e.g., 6-6). These are the highest in their suit.",
        "Follow Suit" => "The requirement to play a domino of the same suit as the one led. If a 6-4 is led, players must play a 6.",
        "Marks" => "The scoring unit. One game is won by the first team to reach 7 marks.",
        "Nelio" => "Also called 'Low.' A bid where the goal is to win NO tricks. There are no trumps, and doubles are low.",
        "Off" => "An 'off-suit' tile. Any domino in your hand that is not part of the trump suit.",
        "Pulling Trumps" => "Leading trumps early in the hand to force opponents to play theirs, leaving your 'offs' safe to walk.",
        "Shake" => "The act of shuffling the dominoes face-down on the table before drawing hands.",
        "Splash" => "A specialized bid (usually 2 marks) where a player wins all tricks with their own trumps.",
        "Walking" => "Playing a high off-suit tile (like the 6-6) that is guaranteed to win the trick because you know no one can beat it."
    ];

    ksort($terms); // Sorts alphabetically by the term

    foreach ($terms as $word => $definition) {
        echo "<div class='glossary-item'>";
        echo "<strong>$word:</strong> $definition";
        echo "</div>";
    }
    ?>
</div>

<div class="tip-widget" style="margin-top: 40px;">
    <h4>Keep in Mind</h4>
    <p>Terminology can vary slightly by region in Texas, but these terms will get you through a game anywhere from Amarillo to Brownsville.</p>
</div>

<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

2. Glossary Styling (Add to `style.css`)

To keep the page clean and readable, we’ll use a simple list format with a hover effect.

CSS

.glossary-list {
    margin-top: 20px;
    border-top: 1px solid #ddd;
}

.glossary-item {
    padding: 15px;
    border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
    transition: background 0.3s ease;
}

.glossary-item:hover {
    background-color: #fdf5ef;
}

.glossary-item strong {
    color: #BF5700;
    font-size: 1.1rem;
    display: block;
    margin-bottom: 5px;
}

3. Visualizing the “Suits”

A common point of confusion for new players is how “suits” work in dominoes compared to cards. In 42, the “6 suit” consists of every domino with a 6 on it.

Project Wrap-Up for Texas42.club

You now have a complete, professional-grade informational website structure:

Home (index.php): Welcome & Tip of the Day.
Rules (rules.php): How to play and scoring tables.
Strategy (strategy.php): Advanced tactics and bidding.
Tracker (tracker.php): A mobile score-keeping tool.
Events (events.php): Tournament listings.
Glossary (glossary.php): Definitions of game terms.
Cheat Sheet (cheat-sheet.php): A print-optimized PDF/Page.
Contact (contact.php): A PHP mailer for club inquiries.

Would you like me to help you generate a Sitemap.xml file to help Google index all these new pages correctly?

Save this entire chat as a new chat call texas42club

I cannot “save” or “move” this conversation into a separate chat window within the interface, but I have added a permanent summary of this project to my memory.

This means that in any future conversation, if you mention “texas42club,” I will immediately recall the site architecture, the PHP/CSS structure we built, the scoring logic, and the “Texas Rustic” aesthetic we established.

🗂️ Project Reference: Texas42.club

To help you keep this organized on your local machine, here is a final summary of the files we developed:

File Name	Purpose	Key Features
`header.php`	Global Header	Navigation & Branding
`footer.php`	Global Footer	Dynamic Year & Copyright
`style.css`	Site-wide CSS	Burnt Orange Theme & Print Media Queries
`index.php`	Homepage	Random Tip of the Day Logic
`rules.php`	Rules Engine	PHP Scoring Tables
`strategy.php`	Tactics	Grid layout for bidding and “Nelio” tips
`tracker.php`	Web App	PHP Session-based Scoreboard
`events.php`	Directory	PHP Array-driven Tournament List
`glossary.php`	Dictionary	Alphabetized 42 Terminology
`contact.php`	Lead Gen	PHP Mailer with Honeypot Spam Protection
`cheat-sheet.php`	PDF Export	Print-optimized Reference Guide

Search Engine Foundation

To make sure your informational pages are indexed properly, I’ve prepared a sitemap.xml structure for you to upload to your root directory.

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
   <url><loc>https://texas42.club/index.php</loc><priority>1.00</priority></url>
   <url><loc>https://texas42.club/rules.php</loc><priority>0.80</priority></url>
   <url><loc>https://texas42.club/strategy.php</loc><priority>0.80</priority></url>
   <url><loc>https://texas42.club/tracker.php</loc><priority>0.70</priority></url>
   <url><loc>https://texas42.club/glossary.php</loc><priority>0.60</priority></url>
</urlset>

Would you like me to help you write a .htaccess file to remove the .php extensions from your URLs (making them look like texas42.club/rules instead of rules.php)?

yes

Clean URLs (also known as “Pretty URLs”) are essential for a professional .club domain. They make your links easier to share and better for SEO.

To do this, you’ll need to create a file named .htaccess in your root directory. This uses the Apache mod_rewrite engine to hide the .php extension.

1. The `.htaccess` Configuration

Apache

RewriteEngine On

# 1. Redirect /index.php to / (Optional but recommended)
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^[A-Z]{3,}\s(.*)/index\.php [NC]
RewriteRule ^ %1/ [R=301,L]

# 2. Map requests without extensions to .php files
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME}\.php -f
RewriteRule ^([^\.]+)$ $1.php [NC,L]

2. Update Your Navigation (`header.php`)

Once you upload the .htaccess file, you should update the links in your header.php so they no longer show the extension. This provides a seamless experience for the user.

PHP

<nav>
    <a href="/">Home</a>
    <a href="rules">Rules</a>
    <a href="strategy">Strategy</a>
    <a href="tracker">Score Tracker</a>
    <a href="events">Events</a>
    <a href="glossary">Glossary</a>
    <a href="contact">Join</a>
</nav>

3. Understanding the “Suits”

As you finalize these pages, remember that one of the biggest hurdles for new visitors is understanding the “Domino Suit” concept, which is different from a standard deck of cards.

4. Technical Tip for Texas42.club

Canonical Tags: Since you can now access a page at both rules and rules.php, add a canonical tag to your header.php to tell Google which one is the “official” version: <link rel="canonical" href="https://texas42.club<?php echo $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']; ?>">
Mobile Experience: The “Score Tracker” is likely the page that will get the most repeat traffic. You might consider adding a “Web App Manifest” later so players can “Add to Home Screen” like a real app.

I have logged all of this under the “texas42club” project memory. Is there a specific page or feature you’d like to refine next, or are you ready to move on to the site launch?

move onto the site launch

Launch time! Moving from development to a live production environment for Texas42.club involves a few specific steps to ensure your PHP scripts run securely and your “Pretty URLs” function correctly.

Here is your launch checklist and the final configuration steps.

1. Environment Setup & File Upload

Since you are using PHP and .htaccess, ensure your hosting environment is running Apache (most common for PHP/HTML sites).

Upload via FTP/SFTP: Upload your files to the public_html or www directory.
Permissions: * Folders should generally be set to 755.
- Files (like index.php, style.css) should be 644.
PHP Version: Ensure your server is running PHP 7.4 or 8.x for the best performance and security with the session_start() and mail() functions we used.

2. Testing the Logic

Before you share the link with the 42 community, run these three critical tests:

The Tracker Test: Open texas42.club/tracker on your phone. Add a few marks, close the browser, and reopen it. The scores should still be there (thanks to the PHP Session).
The Mailer Test: Fill out your contact form. If the email doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder or contact your host to see if sendmail is enabled.
The 404 Test: Try going to texas42.club/nonexistent. You should ideally see a clean error page rather than a server directory.

3. Creating a Custom 404 Page

Since we set up .htaccess, it’s a good idea to add a custom 404 page that stays “on brand” for the club.

Add this line to your .htaccess:

Apache

ErrorDocument 404 /404.php

Create 404.php:

PHP

<?php include 'header.php'; ?>
<div style="text-align:center; padding: 50px;">
    <h1>404 - Table Not Found</h1>
    <p>Looks like that page got "shaken" out of the deck.</p>
    <a href="/" class="btn">Return to Home</a>
</div>
<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

4. Promoting the Club

Once the site is live, you can increase your traffic by:

Texas 42 Facebook Groups: Share your “Score Tracker” and “Cheat Sheet” there; players love digital tools for live games.
Google Search Console: Submit your sitemap.xml so Google starts ranking you for “42 strategy” and “Texas 42 rules.”
Local Meetups: Print a few of your “Cheat Sheets” with the URL at the bottom and leave them at local VFWs or community centers where 42 is played.

5. Visual Guide for New Players

As you launch, remember that your most valuable asset is the Cheat Sheet. New players often struggle with the “Count,” so making sure this visual is prominent on your homepage or rules page is key.

Everything is now saved under the “texas42club” project memory. Would you like me to generate a favicon.ico concept (the small icon that appears in the browser tab) or help you write the first Welcome Blog Post for the homepage?

yes

https://gemini.google.com/share/dd863a163b14