Dominoes, also called bones, tiles or men, are a type of game where players try to be the first to lay down all their dominoes. There are a number of different games that can be played, and the rules vary depending on the variant.
The first player begins by laying their chosen tile face-up in the middle of the table. The next player must match one end of their domino to part of the first tile, and so on around the table.
Rules
Dominoes are a tile game in which players try to place tiles with matching numbers on the table. Each tile has a line dividing its face into two square ends, each end having a number from none up to six.
Each player starts with a hand of seven tiles. They are shuffled and drawn in order.
The first player in the hand plays a domino and tries to match it with a tile in his own hand that matches the numbers on the other side of the same domino. If the player cannot match his domino, he draws from a stock of dominoes until he can.
Once he has matched a tile, it is joined to the line of play in two ways: lengthwise and crosswise, depending on the pattern of the line of play. Doubles are played crosswise, and singles are lengthwise, unless the double is a spinner.
The game ends when one player chips out. In partnership games, the partner of the one who chipped out scores points equal to the pips on the remaining dominoes in his hand.
Materials
Dominos are small, flat rectangular game pieces made from wood, bone, or plastic. They have been used since ancient times.
There are several types of dominos, and each type has its own unique design. Some are made from marble, for example, which can make them look like works of art.
Others are made from wood, for example, which makes them more durable. However, most modern sets are made from plastics, such as urea or acrylic.
Some are also made of baize, which provides a good balance between friction and slide. It also helps to deaden sound, which is important in a game where a lot of movement is required.
Most dominos have a number of different colors, which are sometimes labeled with numbers instead of dots. This makes it easier to connect the different tiles to make matches.
Variations
Dominoes are widely used in a number of different games. They can be a blocking game in which players try to empty their hands, or they can be a scoring game in which the player(s) add tiles to a layout or tableau at the center of the table.
One popular variant is Concentration, played with a double-six set of dominoes. The tiles are arranged into a 4 X 7 grid face down and each player turns over two dominoes when they take their turn.
Play proceeds clockwise around the table. When a tile matches, it is placed in front of the player who placed it and the player takes another turn.
Some domino variants have unusual rules for matching, such as Chicken Foot and Matador, which use doubles as spinners. Other variations include Bendomino, which uses curved tiles and requires that one side of the line of play be blocked for geometrical reasons. In addition, many domino sets are extended by introducing ends with greater numbers of pips; this increases the number of unique combinations of ends and thus pieces.
Scoring
The scoring system in domino is a little more complicated than in a standard game of ping-pong. Players must count the number of open ends on each tile they play and divide that sum by 5 to get their score.
The winning player gets a medal and his team earns points according to the number of open ends their teammates have.
The most impressive score is achieved by laying the largest possible number of tiles on the board, preferably a full set of doubles. This can be done by playing a single piece to each end of the chain or by extending the chain at right angles. In addition to the usual tile juggling, the best scoring strategy is to use a combination of a symmetrical and asymmetrical pair of dominoes to produce a large score in one turn. It is also a good idea to use an assortment of different color dominoes to maximize your scoring possibilities.