Dominoes are rectangular blocks of plastic or wood with a number of dots, or pips, on each end. The pips indicate the value of the domino, which ranges from six to none or blank.
The idiom domino effect is a metaphor for events that can lead to a series of other events. It was used by President Eisenhower to explain the way Communism could spread throughout the world.
Origin
Domino is a mutant with the ability to alter probabilities. Subconsciously, she creates a psionic aura that shifts the odds in her favor. This can range from making an enemy’s equipment malfunction to stopping a machine from overloading.
The term domino originated in the early 18th Century, when the game moved from Italy to France and became a fad. The word derives from the Latin domine, which originally referred to a type of monastic hood. Later, it was used to describe a hooded masquerade costume with a mask, and then to one of the pieces in the domino set.
Domino was recruited by G.W. Bridge to infiltrate a Rumekistan medical research center controlled by the cyborg Reavers. She and Sunspot posing as a camera crew, helped to liberate mutants sequestered by Operation Zero Tolerance.
Rules
Dominoes are played by placing a piece on the table and positioning it so that it touches one end of the existing domino chain. This chain consists of a line of dominoes, with each end marked with a number or blank.
Each player takes turn playing a domino from their hand, positioning it in such a way that the number shown on the exposed end matches an already-played domino. This creates a link in the chain, and a new domino may be added to either end of the chain.
The rules of domino are very strict and must be adhered to at all times. Players cannot slam dominoes against the floor or other surfaces as this causes damage and can lead to disqualification. Additionally, players are not allowed to conceal dominoes from other players and must be able to see all pieces at all times.
Variations
There are many variations of domino. Some of these focus on blocking or scoring games, while others are more like card games or were created to circumvent religious proscriptions against playing cards.
Dominoes, also known as bones, are rectangular tiles with a line in the middle visually dividing them into two squares and an arrangement of spots, or pips, on each half. These pips are used to identify each domino and determine its value.
The number of pips on each face is what distinguishes one domino from another, and these pips are called the rank or weight. For example, a domino with 3 pips on one side and 5 on the other is more valuable than a domino with 3 pips or no pips.
Materials
Domino tiles are small, thumbsized rectangular blocks that bear a line down the center and an arrangement of dots or pips that vary from zero to six. A complete set of dominoes consists of 28 tiles. The earliest dominoes were made from animal bones or ivory, and later, a material called tagua nut, which looked like ivory but was softer and less costly.
Modern dominoes are often molded from plastic. However, they can also be made from a variety of other materials, including bone and silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl). In the past, sets were often made from natural materials, such as stone (e.g., marble, granite, or soapstone); other woods (such as hickory and cedar); metals (e.g., brass or pewter); ceramic clay, and even frosted glass or crystal.
Scoring
Many domino games involve a scoring system. In 5s-and-3s, for example, players score one point for each time a tile in the chain is divisible by five or three. The game is usually played in pairs. The winner is the player who manages to empty their hand of all tiles.
To do this, players must place their tile on the table so that its end matches one of the open ends on a previously placed tile. The value of the two resulting pieces must match, except for doubles, which can be played crosswise and count as both ends for scoring purposes.
When the game ends, players subtract the total value of their remaining dominoes from their running total and then tally their points. This score is often recorded on a cribbage board.
