Domino (or dominos) are small rectangular blocks used in various games. They are similar to dice and playing cards but have a line down their middle that separates them into two squares, called ends.
Each end is either blank or has a number of spots, also known as pips. These are usually between six and six-six, but sets can have more or fewer.
Rules
There are a number of different rules that apply to domino. The most important of these are the layout (the arrangement of played dominoes in the playing area), and scoring.
A typical domino game involves laying down tiles according to matching rules that create chains or trains of tiles. There are many types of these games, including traditional connecting dominoes and those that use undealt tiles.
In some traditional connecting domino games, the first player sets a tile and the players take turns adding their own tiles to a free end of the chain. This process is called matador matching or equal end matching.
The first player adds a domino with the matching numbers to one of the free ends, then the next player adds another tile and so on, going clockwise around the table. The game ends when either a player has no more tiles to play or when the entire chain is blocked.
Materials
Dominoes are small rectangular game pieces that have a line in the middle that separates them into two sides. They are made of a variety of materials, including wood, bone, ivory, and stone.
Modern domino sets are made from plastics, and some are even colored to make them more appealing. They often have a different color for each end value – one-spot dominoes may have black dots, while two-spot dominoes might have green or red pips.
Many modern commercial domino sets are made from synthetic materials, such as ABS or polystyrene plastics. These are a bit less expensive than the older sets, and they are easier to clean.
During the early 19th century, dominoes were created using animal bones. Then, sailors began to use tiles made of tagua nut, which was almost as valuable as ivory.
Variations
There are many different variations of domino, including games that involve strategy rather than luck. Some of these games include Muggings, which is based on numeric additions, and 42, which involves bidding for “tricks.”
The game of domino was first introduced in Europe during the 18th century. It is a positional game where each player in turn places a domino edge to edge against another in such a way that the adjacent faces are either identical or form some specified total.
Each domino has a line in the middle that divides it into two squares, with pips on one half of the face and spots on the other. The number of pips on each side is considered to be its weight, and a domino with more pips is generally heavier than one with fewer.
In Chinese dominoes, which have been used for centuries in various parts of the world, the tiles were made to mimic the results of throwing two six-sided dice. Each domino originally represented one of the 21 possible results, and Chinese sets typically had duplicates of some throws.
Scoring
The best place to start is with a set of dominoes that are the right size and weight for you. For best results, play on a hard surface and take turns.
One of the most fun aspects of domino is that it’s a team sport. In a standard game, each player takes turns placing the same number of dominoes on the table. When all players have placed their tile, the first player to pick up a tile wins the round.
In addition to the usual scoring scheme, some games involve a variety of tactics and strategies. For example, some games involve a combination of blocking and scoring. A nimble and clever player may even be able to bluff his way into the lead. In other games, the best players may need to rely on luck or a well-timed strategy to squeak out a win. There are also a multitude of games that use the same basic rules but in different combinations and contexts.