Quick Start Guide
Get from signup to your first DCS tournament in under 5 minutes. Everything you need to start competing.
Ready to dominate? Follow these steps to join the action.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Visit dcs.gg/play and sign up with your email or social account. Registration is free and takes less than a minute.
What you'll need:
- Valid email address
- Your city (to match you with your Sister City)
- A gamer tag (this is how you'll be known on the leaderboards)
Step 2: Choose Your Membership
DCS offers three membership tiers, each unlocking different prize pools and benefits:
| Tier | Annual Fee | Weekly Prize Pool | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $50/year | $500 | Getting started, casual competitors |
| Silver | $100/year | $1,000 | Serious players, regular competitors |
| Gold | $200/year | $2,000 | Elite competitors, maximum earnings |
You can start with Bronze and upgrade anytime. Your membership activates immediately.
Step 3: Join Your Sister City
Based on your location, you'll be matched to one of DCS's 50 Sister Cities. This is your home arena—where you'll compete, rank, and represent.
Your Sister City determines:
- Which weekly challenges you compete in
- Who you're ranked against locally
- Which Elite Six you can qualify for
- Your city's position in national standings
Step 4: Enter a Challenge
Navigate to Challenges and find your city. You'll see:
- Current week's challenge — The active tournament
- Entry deadline — When registration closes
- Prize pool — What's at stake
- Current Elite Six — The top players to beat
Tap Enter Arena to register for the weekly challenge.
Step 5: Play and Submit
When tournament time comes:
- Play your matches — Either online through the DCS app or at sanctioned local venues
- Submit your scores — Record your results in the app
- Verify results — Your opponents confirm the outcome
- Watch your rank — Points update in real-time
Step 6: Climb the Ranks
Every match affects your standing:
- Win — Gain ranking points
- Dominate (win all hands) — Bonus points
- Beat higher-ranked opponents — Bigger point gains
- Lose to lower-ranked opponents — Steeper point losses
Finish in the Top 6 of your city to enter the Elite Six showdown for that week's prize pool.
What's Next?
Now that you're in the game:
- Learn the Rules — Master Cut-Throat domino strategy
- Understand the Tournament System — Learn how rankings and prizes work
- Find Your Player Path — Discover the DCS experience that fits your style
Tips for New Players
Start with Bronze — Get comfortable with the platform before investing more.
Play consistently — Weekly participation builds your ranking faster than occasional big wins.
Connect locally — Find other DCS players in your city through the community features.
Watch the Elite Six — Study how top players perform to improve your own game.
Welcome to DCS. Now go dominate.