Domino is a game in which players build chains of tiles with matching numbers on each end. The player who drew the highest domino wins. The number of rounds played is predetermined or until a specific point limit is reached.
Play-2-Learn Dominoes, Empathy Counts teaches children how to express and recognize feelings, and be empathetic toward others. The game comes with four decks of cards that each asks a question or practices a skill.
Origin
Dominoes are one of the oldest games known to man. It is not certain how they were invented, but they are widely used in many countries. The game has become a popular past time for everyone from children to grandparents.
There are many different accounts of the origin of dominoes, but none of them is entirely reliable. Some claim that the game was invented by a Chinese soldier in the 12th century, while others claim that it was developed independently.
The name “domino” probably comes from the Latin word for dominus, or master of the house. The name later became a nickname for hooded masks worn in the form of a domino, and then a generic term for any type of hooded costume or mask. The first sets of dominoes were made from animal bones and wood. The modern version of the game was introduced to Europe in the 18th century, possibly through French prisoners of war.
Rules
Dominoes have a number of different rules that are designed to ensure the game runs smoothly and prevent cheating occurrences. For example, a player may only play a domino that has an open end on one of the ends of the layout. An open end is a side of a domino that has no other tiles connected to it.
To start a hand, players must shuffle their tiles and draw one to determine who plays first. The person who draws the highest double goes first, followed by the player with the lowest domino value left on their tiles. If neither player can make a play in a round, the player with the lower total number of pips wins. It is important to remember that a player cannot hide any dominoes and must be alert for exposed ones.
Variations
Dominoes are crafted from various materials, including wood, metal, and plastic. They are usually twice as long as they are wide, which makes them easier to re-stack after use. They also have a line in the middle to separate them visually into two squares, called ends, each of which has a number of spots (called pips). The value of an end depends on its position in a domino set and the type of game being played.
The most common domino games are blocking and scoring games, but there are many other variations as well. Some games use dice to determine which player seats themselves, while others are adapted from card games.
Some games, such as Mexican Train, use special markers to identify a player’s train and the last double played. These can be used to pass a turn if a player cannot make a play.
Materials
Dominoes are small, flat rectangular blocks that can be used to play a variety of games. They are usually twice as long as they are wide, and they feature a line down the center that separates them into two squares. Each square features an arrangement of spots (also called pips) that corresponds to the number represented by that domino piece.
Most dominoes are made of urea or acrylic, and they are available in different styles and quality levels. More expensive domino sets are often crafted by true artisans and may be very ornate in appearance.
A common domino set consists of 28 tiles, and larger sets are also available for more advanced layout games. The most popular domino size is double-six, but other sizes are also used in some more complicated games.
Scoring
The score for domino depends on the variant played and the rules followed. Generally, players score points by making the exposed ends of the chain add up to a multiple of five. The value of each end is the sum of the two matching tile ends. In some games, the double is a spinner.
A player may mark a train with a marker and then add to it during subsequent turns. A marked train is public and can be added to by any player. A player can also change a private train to a public one during a turn. The player who scores the most in a set number of rounds wins the game. A common score limit is 150 points. Some variations use different values for a single and double-blank, while others make no distinction between the two types of tiles.