Domino is a game of chance and skill. Its rules vary from place to place, though many games are similar. Some of them are blocking games, while others involve scoring points.
The heaviest tile in the player’s hand starts play. This rule applies whether or not the tile is a double.
Rules
Dominoes are a game that can be played by two or more players. They are a set of 28 tiles with a square end on one side and a number on the other. There are many variations of the game, but most involve scoring based on the value of the pips on the open ends of the dominoes.
After the dominoes are shuffled and arranged on the table, each player draws a domino and establishes who will start. The player with the highest double usually starts, but this varies depending on the game. If a player cannot play his or her domino, it stays face down in the boneyard and the turn passes to the next player.
At the end of a round, players count the value of their remaining dominoes. The player with the lowest value wins and scores the difference between his or her score and the total value of all the opponent’s dominoes.
Variations
A domino set consists of tiles that have the same identifying marks on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other. These identifying markings, called pips, are arranged in regular patterns that form an arrangement of numbers similar to the dots on a die.
There are many different games that can be played with a domino set, and the rules for these variations vary widely from place to place. However, most domino games fit into one of four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games.
The most basic domino variant is the Draw game, and most characteristic domino games are elaborations of this. This game is played with a standard double-six set, and players draw seven dominoes from the stock until they have a tile that can be played. Players then alternately extend the line of play by adding a matching tile to either end. One point is scored each time the sum of the end tiles is divisible by five or three.
Materials
Dominoes come in a wide variety of materials. They can be made from plastic, wood, or even stone. They can also be painted or carved from different materials. This makes them more interesting to look at and use. Some are also a bit more expensive than others.
The most common type of domino is a double-six set. These contain 28 unique tiles and are used in many games. There are also larger sets, such as double-nine and twelfth. These are often used for more advanced games.
Historically, dominoes were made of bone or ivory. They were carved by prisoners-of-war to pass the time and help them earn money. In the 18th century, European dominoes were also made of silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, and dark hardwoods like ebony. In the 19th century, a type of plastic called Bakelite was invented by Leo Baekeland. This was followed by tinplate, which allowed for cheaper domino manufacture and marketing.
Scoring
Domino is a game of skill and strategy. Players score points by making the ends of a domino chain add up to a multiple of five. If a player can play their last domino and make the entire board count, they are said to “domino,” and receive their opponents’ hand total, rounded up to the nearest five.
Dominoes are divided visually into two square ends with a value on each, ranging from six pips down to none or blank. These values are sometimes called spots or pips.
The scoring system varies depending on the game-variant being played. In some games, the exposed ends of the initial double (sometimes referred to as a spinner) do not count towards the points. This allows the game to progress faster. The game is usually played until one player’s score reaches a specified point limit. This can be as few as 150 points in some games. The winner is determined by who has the most points.
