A small rectangular block of wood or plastic, bearing from one to six pips or dots, used for gaming. 28 such blocks form a domino set. Also called bones, pieces, men, or stones.
The player holding the heaviest double begins play. Players may draw new hands as they wish, but only if the game rules allow for it.
Origins
Domino, a cousin to playing cards, has an extensive history. Its origin is debated, but the game likely began in China during the 12th century. It was originally made from bone and wood and was used for a variety of games.
The markings on dominoes, called pips, originally represented the results of two thrown dice. The traditional European domino set consists of twenty-eight tiles, each representing a combination of six different throws. There are also blank dominoes that represent the throws of a single die.
A female mutant named Domino has appeared in several Marvel comics. She is a member of X-Force, portrayed by Zazie Beetz. The character is a frequent ally of Wolverine and a close friend of Rogue. She was once a prisoner of supervillain Tolliver for over a year.
Rules
There are many different domino games, and the rules vary slightly from game to game. However, all dominoes have the same basic characteristics. Each is marked with a series of spots, or “pips,” that correspond to the numbers one through six on a standard dice. The dominoes also have blank or identically patterned sides.
Players begin by shuffling their dominoes and drawing a hand of seven tiles. They then place their unseen dominoes in front of them. If a player does not have any doubles, they must draw from the boneyard until they do. Usually, the highest double begins play. A player may also choose to randomize the start of the game. This is done by clicking the button. This will cause the system to select a piece randomly, which will then be placed in the chain.
Variations
There are many variants of domino. Some of them involve blocking opponents’ play, while others are scoring games such as bergen and muggins. Generally, players count the pips on their dominoes and add them together to determine who wins. The game ends when one player can no longer play any tiles, or when all players have played their entire hand.
There are also a number of variations on the standard draw game, including 42 and Mexican train. In these, doubles are used as’spinners’, meaning that the line of play may branch off either of its two open ends. Another variation, called bendomino, uses curved tiles, which mean that the line of play can be blocked for geometrical reasons. Other variations include a Concentration variant and solitaire games that mimic card games.
Materials
Throughout the centuries domino pieces have been made of a variety of materials. The modern mass-produced dominoes are usually made of plastic, metal or wood. Some are even crafted from stone, though this can be quite expensive.
Domino pieces are normally twice as long as they are wide so that they stand upright when stacked side-to-side. They feature a line in the middle to visually divide them into two squares, each bearing an arrangement of dots or “pips” that identify a piece.
Players might use a domino rack to keep their tiles organized and to prevent them from falling over. They might also want to keep score using a sheet of paper or a special domino scoring pad and pencil. In addition, they might need a playing surface that is suitable for the game such as a felt table.
Scoring
The scoring system in domino games varies. Most of the games involve blocking one’s opponents’ play and determining points by counting the total value of the opposing players’ dominoes. These games include bergen and muggins.
To start the game, the dominoes are shuffled and the player who draws the highest double starts. Play moves in a clockwise direction. If a player cannot make a play, he must draw dominoes from the boneyard until he can.
Each time a domino is played, the exposed ends must match. If the total of these ends is a multiple of five, the player scores that number of points. This continues until all the dominoes in a line are added up. When this happens, the score is awarded to the winner.
