The first player lays one of their dominoes in the center of the table. Turns then go clockwise around the table.
Each domino has identifying marks on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. These markings are called pips.
The heaviest tile plays first. Players try to reduce the board count by matching a double to a previous play.
Rules
The basic game of domino is played with one or more players. The objective is to clear your hand of dominoes before your opponent and score points equivalent to the number of dots in their hand. Most games are blocking games in which a player tries to empty his hand by blocking the opponents’. The winner is the first to do so.
Each player draws a number of tiles and places them on the table. Any leftover unseen dominos are discarded. The players then arrange their dominoes in front of them so that only they can see the pips on them.
Then, in turn, each player plays a tile on the board positioning it so that it touches one end of an existing chain or is placed across a double (called a “snake”). The result is that the domino chain develops snake-line at random and the number of spots on the ends of the chain increases.
Materials
A domino is a small, flat block used for gaming. They are usually twice as long as wide and can be made from a variety of materials over the centuries, including bone, wood, ivory, and stone. They feature a square face that is divided by a line into two equal halves, and each half features an arrangement of spots or “pips” that match the numbers on a die. Some sets have blank or zero-pip faces.
In the past, dominoes were often carved from natural materials such as silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), bone, or ebony, with contrasting black or white pips. More recently, they have been made from a range of plastics such as polymer or vinyl.
Many domino sets come with a storage box that allows players to keep score. These boxes can be cardboard or a more sturdy vinyl snap lock case. Some also include a cribbage board built into the case lid.
Variations
Many different rules and variations of domino exist. Some games require a specific number of dominos, others use a particular layout of tiles. The most common is Block, in which players take turns playing a domino on the table so that its ends match adjacent dominoes. The game continues until one player clears his or her hand and wins the hand.
The other basic type of game is Draw. In this variation, each player draws seven dominoes from a face-down stock or boneyard. The players then play their tiles, adding to the growing domino chain. Each time a domino is added to the chain, it must cover two arbitrary squares on its adjacent ends.
There are also positional games that involve positioning dominoes edge to edge against each other so that their exposed ends match (for example, 5 to 5) or form some specified total. Some of these games require a set of rules for the line of play, such as that doubles must be played on their sides except in certain games like Chicken Foot.
Scoring
Domino is one of the most popular arcade games. Its unique style and gameplay makes it a fun game to play. The game also features an interesting storyline and a great soundtrack. Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag is the in-game music, and it adds to the enjoyment of playing the game.
The scoring system in domino varies depending on the type of game played. Most blocking games are scored by counting the number of pips left in the losing player’s hands at the end of the hand or game. In other scoring games, such as Muggins, points are calculated by determining how many of the open ends are multiples of five.
The removing of obstacles in the path of a domino is another way to make the game more difficult, and it can be a great strategy to employ. Ideally, the obstacles should be positioned in such a way that skipping them won’t result in a loss of turns.