A. The former N42PA rule II-4 (2015) specified only one placement of drawn dominos: "Dominoes shall be lined up in two rows with three in the front (near the player), and four in the back (near the table's center)."
      Note 1: The American Institute of Chemical Enginers (AIChE), Gulf Coast Section, specified in their 2004 tournament rule #6 that "Dominoes must be set on table with backrow of 4 dominoes & front row of 3 dominoes and may not be rearranged during play."
      Note 2: The 42 handbook, 'Killer' 42 (© 2015), states on page 89 that "dominoes must be set on table with back row of 4 dominoes & front row of 3 dominoes and may not be rearranged during play."

B. The current N42PA rule 8 specifies options for placement of dominos: "Dominos must be placed in a 4-3 or 3-4 format once you draw from the shake. Once the bidding starts, you cannot rearrange your dominos for the rest of the hand. This includes pushing your dominos together as the hand plays out."
      Note: On 27 Sep 2019, the N42PA Board approved the following addition to the rule: "The initial placement of dominos must be used for the remainder of the game."

C. The current Austin 42 Club rules state placement options, also: "Dominos must be placed in a 4-3 or 3-4 format once you draw from the shake. Once the bidding starts, you cannot rearrange your dominos for the rest of the hand. This includes pushing your dominos together as the hand plays out."

D. The current Hallettsville State Championship tourney rule 6 specifies options, also: "Dominos must be placed up facing each player in a 4-3 or 3-4 arrangement."
      Note: Reportedly, some older Hallettsville rules do not have an optional placement rule. If you have a copy of the rules between 2004 and 2012 that verify this, please send email.

E. The current Austin 42 organization rules state placement options with game-enduring restrictions: "Positioning of Bones: Bones may not be held (except for initial viewing) and shall be lined up in front of the player in two horizontal rows stacked 4-3 or 3-4, maintained consistently from hand to hand and game to game. Bones may not be moved nor pushed together once play begins."