Dominoes are an incredibly satisfying game to play. They provide a feeling of accomplishment when you see that long chain fall over and reveal something spectacular.
Domino effects are low probability high consequence events the modeling and risk assessment of which are challenging due to limited data. Two common methods to deal with these uncertainties are CFD/FEM models and probabilistic models.
Rules
The rules of domino vary according to the game being played. Most domino games are blocking games, in which players try to empty their hands while preventing opponents from scoring. These games may be modified to become scoring games, in which points are assigned by counting the pips in winning players’ hands.
The order of play in a domino game can be determined by drawing lots or by seating arrangements. In either case, the winner of a previous game makes the first play of the new hand. Then, the player to his left adds a domino that matches one of the free ends of an already-played domino.
There is also a variation where any double can be used for the first play, whether it’s the set, down, or lead. This is called the sniff, and it allows players to make a second play on any double before their opponent does. This is useful for strategy.
Variations
There are many different games that can be played with dominoes. Most of these are layout games in which players add tiles from their hand to a domino layout or tableau on the table. Some of these games are blocking games in which the object is to prevent your opponent from laying his or her tile, and others are scoring games in which the objective is to score by creating particular configurations on the layout.
One of the most common domino variations is Domino Magic Squares. This game requires students to build toward a specific number, such as 9. Students must place four dominoes around the number to form rows of numbers that equal the number in the center. This activity is a great way to practice addition and problem solving skills before moving on to more advanced domino variations. Another example is Matador, a game in which the goal is to play a domino that will match an adjacent one.
Materials
The game pieces themselves are often made of a variety of materials. In modern times most dominoes are made of a cheap shiny plastic. However, some sets are made of wood. The wooden dominoes tend to be much more expensive than the modern mass produced ones.
Like playing cards, dominoes have a front side with identifying marks and a backside that is blank or decorated. The identifying marks, usually molded or drilled, are called pips. Usually a domino has six pips and one blank, but some have fewer or none.
In the past, dominoes were made from a variety of natural materials including bone, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Some had black pips inlaid or painted on them. In the early 20th century the manmade plastic material Bakelite was used to make dominoes. The newer synthetic material Xylonite, also known as celluloid, was later introduced. Most modern domino sets are designed to fit into a small narrow storage box.
Scoring
The scoring system in domino is flexible and can be determined by the players. One method involves counting the number of points on both ends of a double when it is played (if it is a spinner). The player may also count all sides of a double, or even all four sides of a single tile, in which case each side counts as two.
Another way to determine the winner of a game is by counting the total amount of domino spots that were left in the losing player’s hands at the end of the hand or game. This method is similar to cribbage, except that domino spots are worth more than card points.
A complete set of dominos contains 28 tiles, each bearing from one to six pips on a rectangular base. The pips are arranged in rows of four and are grouped into categories: doubles, singles, and blanks. Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide, and their pips can be either all black or all white.