Domino is a popular game that can be enjoyed by all ages. There are many different ways to play, and it can be used to develop social skills. In addition, it can be used to improve motor skills and eye-hand coordination.
The first player plays any domino they choose from their hand. The next player then plays a matching domino on one of the open sides of the starting domino.
Origin
Dominoes are a popular game around the world and they have a long history. While there are various theories about their origin, the most likely is that they were invented in China around the 12th Century.
The name “domino” is believed to be derived from the Latin word dominus, which means master. It was later used to refer to a mask worn by Venetian priests during carnivals and then to the game itself.
Some Chinese legends claim that the domino was invented by a soldier named Hung Ming (181 – 234 AD) to keep his soldiers awake during night watches. However, these stories are unlikely to be true. In any event, the domino made its way to Europe through Marco Polo’s travels and was then spread throughout the 1700s.
Rules
In domino, each player plays a tile onto the table, positioning it so that one end matches to part of another previously played tile. This creates a chain that gradually increases in length. The first tile played is referred to as the set, down, or lead. The double played as the lead is often a spinner, meaning that it can be played on all four sides.
The winner of a round is determined by counting the value of each opponent’s remaining domino tiles. The winning player subtracts this value from his own and adds it to his score. The stock of dominoes is shuffled before each game and drawn by each player in turn. Generally, the player drawing the heaviest tile begins play. The heaviest tile may be either a double or a single.
Variations
One variation of domino involves placing tiles edge to edge so that their pips match. This is a positional game and one that can be played with many different numbers of players. A variant of this game is popular in British pubs and clubs. The object is to score points by attaching a domino from your hand to an existing end of a chain so that the sum of the pips on both ends of the tile is divisible by five or three.
Typically, the player with the lowest total score at the end of the game wins. The number of rounds can also vary. Some games use a Mexican train rule, in which each player builds a continuous line of dominos. This variation can be played with any doublet.
Materials
Using the correct materials is vital when building domino constructions. While many people use wood, it is not the most suitable material for this type of project. It is too light, and it may not have enough weight to fall over properly. Plastic dominoes, on the other hand, are smoother and more consistent than wooden ones. They also have a wide variety of colors and accessories.
A domino is a flat thumb-sized rectangular block, the face of which is divided visually into two squares, one of which bears a pattern of spots or pips, while the other is blank or identically patterned to the first side. There are 28 such pieces in a typical set of dominoes.
Dominos are most commonly made of bakelite, a type of plastic. However, some are made of tagua nut, which is a natural substitute for ivory.
Scoring
Dominoes are scored by comparing the number of pips on the exposed ends. If the ends add up to a multiple of five, the player scores that amount. Some players also count the sides of doubles, which are played crosswise.
Before a hand begins, the dominoes must be shuffled to mix them up. The player who draws the highest domino goes first, and play continues until a player is unable to make a move. Any unplayed tiles remain face down and are known as the boneyard.
When the hand is over, the winning player subtracts the value of all other player’s domino tile pips from their own and announces their score. This method of scoring allows a player with a large number of tiles to get a lower negative score than the other players.
