Dominoes are small rectangular blocks with either blank or pip-marked sides. A complete set consists of 28 such pieces.
There are a number of different games that can be played with dominoes. Most of these games fall into two categories: blocking games and scoring games. The latter are typically more complicated, and are used to score points.
Rules
There are many different games that can be played with a domino set. The most popular two are the Draw and Block games. To play these games, each player must place a tile that is compatible with a previous tile. If a double is not compatible, the player can knock on the table to pass their turn.
The winner of the hand is awarded points based on the value of the remaining tiles in other players’ hands rounded to the nearest multiple of five. The winner also earns a bonus if their first play is a spinner (a double that can be played on all four sides).
The game starts when a player places a domino with a matching pair of spots. The next player then places a domino adjacent to the first one, and so on. The first player who plays a matching doublet wins the round. In some cases, a player may have to remove obstacles to allow their opponent to win.
Materials
Dominoes are rectangular blocks of rigid material that are used to play a variety of games. Also known as bones, cards, men or pieces, they are normally twice as long as they are wide and feature a line in the middle that visually divides each domino into two squares. Each side of a domino has an arrangement of spots, or pips, that represent numbers ranging from six to zero.
The most common type of modern domino is made from plastics, although some are metal or stone. However, it is possible to buy sets of dominoes that are carved from wood and are considered works of art.
These are usually more expensive than their mass-produced counterparts and come in a sleek, stylish box. It is also possible to find dominoes that are molded from clay and come in a range of colors. However, these tend to be less popular than the more traditional wooden dominoes. A domino set that comes with a scorekeeping sheet or rules for specific games is often a good choice.
Variations
There are many variations to the basic domino game. These include block games, where the object is to empty your hand; scoring games, in which points are accumulated during the course of play; and trick-taking games that take their inspiration from card games.
Dominoes are usually shuffled before the players draw their hands. The player who draws the highest double plays first. If there is a tie, the player who holds the heaviest single takes first play. If a player draws more tiles for his hand than he can use, those excess tiles remain face down to be drawn by players who cannot make a turn.
The winner of a game of domino is the player who has the lowest total score at the end. The score is calculated by adding the pips on each player’s remaining tiles. The scores are normally added after three rounds of play. This game also goes by the names Muggins, Five Up, and Single Spinner.
Scoring
Dominoes are a type of tiles that have two matching ends. They are normally twice as long as they are wide and may be marked with a number of spots, or pips, on one side, and blank or identically patterned on the other. The value of a domino is determined by the arrangement of its pips.
When playing muggins, also known as all fives, players score when the sum of the open-end pips of the layout is a multiple of 5. The first player to reach this number wins the game.
To determine the winner, some games use a special domino called a spinner. It can have up to four dominoes played on it, and is used for scoring in the games of muggins, bergen, and chicken foot. The spinner can be set by drawing lots, or by placing the heaviest double on it. It is then flipped over to start the round. The players then take turns playing their dominoes on it.
