Domino is a game of skill and patience. It can be played with family and friends or by yourself.
There are many different domino sets available, including double six (28 tiles) and double nine (55 tiles).
The basic rule is that each player in turn places a domino edge-to-edge against another to form a cross or some other specified total. Play continues until one player lays down his last domino to go out.
Origin
Dominoes are small, flat tiles used in traditional games. They are made of wood or plastic and come in different colors.
The origin of dominoes is uncertain, but some people believe they originated in China. It’s also possible that they came from Babylonian tiles used for accounting purposes.
According to Michael Dummett, dominoes first appeared in Europe in the 18th century, likely in Venice and Naples. They differed from Chinese versions in that European sets had seven extra dominoes, six of which represented the results of throwing a die with half the tile left blank.
The word domino is derived from the Latin dominus, which means “master of the house” or, in French, benedicamus. In the 16th century, etymologists suggested that dominoes resembled a kind of monastic hood worn by Christian priests.
Rules
The rules of domino are a set of guidelines designed to ensure a smooth game, prevent cheating occurrences and make sure the players play fair. Each different variant may have its own rules, but the basic fundamentals are the same.
When playing domino, the players begin by laying their pieces end to end. The ends of the doubles must match, and doubles placed across the line of play are not allowed to be played.
After placing the dominoes, play moves clockwise around the table. On each turn, a player will try to play one domino into the middle.
If a player can play a domino into the middle that results in the open ends of the tile making a multiple of five, he scores immediately. If he cannot do this, he draws from the boneyard until a match is found.
Variations
Dominoes are a popular game of skill and chance. There are many different variations, and players can choose a variety of rules to suit their tastes and abilities.
The most basic variation is for two players and requires a double-six set of 28 tiles, which are shuffled face down into the stock or boneyard. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock.
Play begins with the first double domino played and the second to fifth tiles must form a cross around the double. From that point on, every double domino played creates a chain of dominoes to start a new line of play.
Materials
Like playing cards, dominoes have an identifying face and a blank or identically patterned back. A domino’s identity-bearing face is divided into two square halves by a line, and each square has spots, or “pips,” that represent numbers.
Originally dominoes were made from a variety of exotic materials, including animal bones and ebony. But the 19th century saw domino manufacture progress thanks to a new kind of plastic, called Bois Durci, invented in 1855 by Frenchman Charles Lepage.
Another type of plastic, Parkesine, was developed in 1856 by a company in Birmingham. Unfortunately, this material was highly flammable and soon domino manufacturers switched to tinplate. Today, dominoes are made from a wide range of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, and even aluminum. However, the majority of commercial domino sets still use tinplate and aluminum.
Scoring
In the game of domino, each player begins by setting a domino of his or her choice that will match the numbers on one of the tiles that is already set. He or she then plays the matching domino so that the exposed ends are the same number as the tile that has been played.
Scoring is done by counting the exposed ends of all dominoes that are played in the line of play. Each of these pips is worth a point, and each multiple of 5 pips is a score of five points.
A scoring strategy that works well in the early stages of a game is to set down all of your dominoes as quickly as possible so that you are able to keep up with your opponents’ board count. This keeps your chances of laying doubles lower and also makes it easier to push up the board count when you have the chance.
