In most domino games, a line of tiles is formed as players make their plays. This is often referred to as the line of play, string or layout.

Each player draws a hand of dominoes and the player with the highest double begins play. If no player has a high double, the winner is determined by drawing new hands and breaking ties.

Rules

When playing domino, a line is formed that is called the layout, string, or line of play. Each domino has a pattern of spots on each end (zero to six).

Generally, each player takes turns placing tiles on the lines. Each tile must touch an open end of a previously played domino. Doubles may be placed on the ends of the line, perpendicular to it, or cross-way across a double touching only one end.

The highest double begins the game and is sometimes referred to as “the lead” or “the down.” If a player does not have a high double, they draw a new hand and begin play. If no players have a high double, the winner of the last game starts play. The next player places a domino onto the line. The players continue this process until someone is unable to play. The winning player’s score is determined by counting the number of open ends on all the opponents’ remaining dominoes.

Variations

Many different games can be played with dominoes. Some use the same rules as others, while other variations vary in tile starts, designs, and scoring. Some of the popular domino games include Cross, Draw, Fives and Threes, Build Up, and Blind Hughie.

A domino is a flat thumb-sized rectangular piece of wood or cardboard, with the identifying marks on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. These markings are called pips and are normally from one to six in number.

The game starts by each player drawing a set of seven dominoes from the boneyard, and then taking turns laying them down to form a line of matching Dominoes. Each domino must touch both ends of the previous domino laid and the line may branch out from either end. If a player cannot play, they must knock (rap) the table and their turn passes to the next player. This also means that players are not allowed to hold a domino back for strategic reasons.

Materials

Over the centuries, dominoes have been made from a variety of materials. Modern mass produced dominoes can be made of plastic, metal, or stone. Some are even designed to be eco-friendly.

A domino is a small rectangular game piece that is used for various games. It has a number of different values that are represented by spots, known as pips. These are usually molded into the pieces of a domino and colored to distinguish them from each other. A domino also has a blank side that can be used for scoring points.

Dominoes come in a variety of colors, and they can be used for a range of games. Some of the most popular are blocking and scoring games. In order to play these games, it is necessary to have a good set of dominoes. These sets should be stored in a storage box, which should have a felt surface for protecting the backs and faces of the tiles.

Scoring

Scores are kept by counting the total of all the open ends on each player’s dominoes. Each time a domino is laid the score is added to the total and recorded on a cribbage board or counter. The player with the highest total wins the game.

Dominoes develop many cognitive skills such as spatial awareness, colour recognition, hand-eye coordination and problem solving. They also encourage social interaction and imagination.

In the 1977 Frost/Nixon interviews, Richard Nixon defended the United States’ destabilization of the Salvador Allende regime in Chile on domino theory grounds. He asserted that a Communist Chile and Cuba would make a “red sandwich” of Latin America and the United States could not allow this to happen. The concept of domino theory became a staple of foreign policy for the Reagan administration. It was used to justify support for non-communist forces fighting the Pathet Lao and Khmer Rouge in Laos and Sumatra and the American commitment of military resources to Ngo Dinh Diem’s government in South Vietnam.