Dominoes are usually double-sided with a number of pips (also known as points) on each side. They may also feature blank faces or a line in the middle. They are usually twice as long as they are wide.
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Origin
Domino, also known as domino pieces or bones, are small, rectangular blocks that can be used to play a variety of games. Traditionally, the markings on the tiles (also called pips) represent the results of throwing two six-sided dice. The game arrived in Britain toward the end of the 18th Century, possibly from France via French prisoners of war.
The word domino originated in Latin as dominus, meaning master of the house, but it may have also referred to a hooded cape worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. The name may also have been based on the fact that the dark dots on the ebony dominoes resembled the black spots on the priest’s surplice. The modern domino set consists of 28 dominoes, each with different combinations of dots and blank ends.
Rules
Before each game, players shuffle the tiles face down on the table. The player that does the shuffling may rotate among the players or the same player may do it each time. In either case, the shuffling should be done thoroughly, with the players’ hands moving in a random fashion.
The number of dominoes a player draws is determined by the rules for the game being played. The player who draws the heaviest tile may make the first play, or, depending on the game’s rules, the winner of the previous game may begin.
Each domino has an arrangement of dots (called pips) on one end and is blank or identically patterned on the other. These pips range from zero to six, similar to the arrangement on a die.
Variations
There are many different domino variants, each with its own rules. Some involve simple scoring, while others may require more strategy. The winner is the player who scores the most points in a given number of rounds. Some games count the total value of a domino, while others only award points for multiples of five (doubles count as one or two).
The game begins with the first player setting a domino with an open end. The player to his left then adds a tile with the same value to one of the free ends of the domino. Other players then add more tiles of the same value to fill in the gaps. Each double has two matching ends, and all non-doubles must have a difference in Pips (the smaller end minus the larger). This gives the domino its unique shape and value.
Materials
Dominoes are manufactured from many different materials, including plastics, metals, and wood. They can also be made from specialty materials such as foam for giant yard dominoes and concrete for tumbling sets.
Early European dominoes were carved from animal bone, typically sheep or cattle bones. Craftsmen created the black dots, or pips, by drilling shallow holes and inlaying them with pieces of thin ebony.
In the late 19th century, craftsmen shifted from animal bone to “vegetable ivory,” which was derived from the tagua nut. This switch was probably due to a shortage of suitable thick animal bone pieces. In the early 20th century a type of synthetic material called Bakelite was invented. It was a precursor to modern plastic. Other natural materials such as marble and granite were used for some sets.
Scoring
A domino is a flat thumbsized rectangular block, bearing from one to six pips (or dots) or blanks. A complete set consists of 28 such blocks. Each domino has two values: its identity and the number of pips it bears.
Most domino games involve emptying a player’s hand while blocking opponents’ play. However, scoring games also exist that count the number of pips in losing players’ hands.
In scoring games such as fives and threes, points are scored when the total of the open ends of a chain is divisible by five or three. This sum is added to the player’s score. For example, a double with exposed ends of four and two scores 10 points. The player can continue to play dominoes that create more scoring combinations until their total score is zero.