Domino is a game of chance and skill. Players score points by forming a line of matching dominoes, with one side bearing one to six dots or spots. The other side is blank or patterned. Dominoes also serve as a tool to teach math skills.
Several different games can be played with the dominoes, and they are often used in conjunction with other tabletop game pieces. The dominoes are shuffled and then drawn by the players in turn.
Rules
There are many variations of domino, and the rules vary from game to game. Some games have different scoring rules than others. Some also use a different method for determining which player makes the first play. The order of play can be determined by drawing lots, seating arrangement or the heaviest domino.
During your turn, you can only move your pawn so that one of its pips matches an adjacent number on a domino that is not covered. You may also place a double that is not a spinner, but you must replace the original edge numbers with matching ones.
If you cannot play a domino on your turn, you can draw from the boneyard until you find a playable one. Players are allowed 15 seconds to play each turn. If you are unable to make a play, you must reveal two of your hidden dominoes and draw one more, keeping it private.
Variations
The most common domino game is a two-player variant that uses a double-six set. The tiles are stacked and the value of each side is determined by its number of dots (known as pips). The higher the pips, the more valuable a tile. A blank domino has no pips and is therefore the lowest in value.
A domino set usually features white with black spots, but some sets come in colors like red and green. This coloration can help new players, or players with poor vision, learn the rules. Some sets even feature curved dominos. This can change the rules for how the line of play is formed and how many sides of a spinner may be occupied.
Able to influence the laws of probability to shift odds in her favor, Domino is a mercenary with a reputation for getting the job done. She joined Wolverine’s X-Force strike team and helped them oppose the mutant criminal Vanisher. She also aided Cable in investigating the clandestine Weapon X program and its depraved director, Malcolm Colcord.
Materials
Traditionally, domino pieces have been made from various materials over the centuries. Some, like this set, are hand carved from richly-hued Indian rosewood and brass inlay with 28 bones (the term for the individual domino game piece). They are exactly half as long as they are wide, so that they can stand on their edge without toppling over.
Historically, European domino sets were made from animal bone—typically ox bones—or ivory for wealthier players. Today, most sets are made from wood, such as ebony or rosewood. Some are made from natural stone, such as marble or soapstone; metal, such as bronze or pewter; or frosted glass or crystal.
In the early 20th century, a manmade material called Bakelite was invented. The plastic was made from phenols and formaldehyde, which are a combination that form a hard resiliant substance. It was the first mass-produced material used for a variety of goods, including dominoes. This was replaced in the later part of the century by modern plastic manufactured from petroleum.
Scoring
Dominoes can be used for a variety of scoring systems. Some games have a predetermined number of rounds, while others are played until a specified point limit is reached. The player with the highest score wins the game.
The value of a domino is determined by its number of spots or pips. A domino with more pips is considered to be “heavier” than a “lighter” one. Dominoes with a double value, such as two or eight, are worth twice the amount of a single domino with the same value.
To determine who opens the first turn, players may draw lots or begin play by laying down the heaviest domino. Once the game has begun, each player may add a new tile to their train on each subsequent turn. Players can also add to other trains, though this is limited to a maximum of one per turn. In teams, scores are added as each team member plays a tile.
