Dominoes are a generic gaming device, similar to playing cards or dice, used for a variety of games. Each domino has an identifying mark on one end and is blank or identically patterned on the other.
The most common set of commercially available dominoes has 28 tiles and is known as a double-six set. Generally, each player draws seven tiles from the stock, which are placed on-edge before players so that they can see their own, but not the value of other players’ tiles.
Rules
There are many different games that use domino, but they all fit into one of four significant categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games. Each of these types has specific rules and variations.
Each player draws a number of tiles from the stock depending on the game. These tiles are placed face down so that the players can look at them without revealing them to their opponents. There may be a surplus of tiles in the stock at the end of the game, which are then used to buy other dominoes.
Some domino games include a spinner (a double that can be played on all four sides). In these games the number of spots on the opponent’s remaining tiles is counted and added to the winner’s score. Alternatively, the total value of all the opponents’ dominoes is summed and added to the winning player’s score. This scoring method is called block scoring.
Variations
There are many different domino games. The rules and scoring of these games differ, but the common goal is to get rid of your tiles before your opponents. The player who scores the most points in an agreed-upon number of rounds is declared the winner.
Dominoes are rectangular tiles that feature a line in the middle to divide them visually into two squares. One side of the tile bears a pattern of dots or pips that correspond to those on a die, while the other is blank or identically patterned. These dominoes are commonly referred to as bones, cards, men or pieces.
In most domino games, only the open ends of a double are available for play. For example, a 3-3 domino cannot be played on the other end because it is already connected to another tile. However, some variations allow additional tiles to be placed on other ends of a double. For this reason, the resulting layouts are usually not identical to the original.
Materials
In the past dominoes were made from a variety of materials. Some were hand carved and made of animal bone, typically ox bones. Others were made from ivory for wealthier players. They were also made from a range of stone types and other materials including brass and pewter.
By the mid-19th-century the first modern dominoes were being manufactured from a synthetic material called Bakelite, which was created by condensing phenols with formaldehyde. By the 20th-century modern plastic manufactured from petroleum became the dominant material for dominoes and continues to be so today.
There are also high end wood dominoes that are crafted by true craftsman, often inlaid with multiple pieces of woods and finished with layers of lacquer. These are often considered works of art and come with hefty price tags to reflect that. They are also a great choice for classroom use. You can even make your own dominoes online using a free domino maker or a template.
Scoring
A scoring game is a domino variant that uses a different method of counting and scoring than the blocking games. It is played in pairs and consists of a series of ends. Players earn points for each end that can be attached to a tile already placed. The number of points earned by each player is recorded on a cribbage board. The game ends when one player makes enough points to win.
The winning player of a round or game is determined by the highest double in his or her hand. In the event of a tie, players draw a domino to determine who goes first. This allows the winner to play a higher double and may result in a faster game. In some cases, the score is calculated by counting the pips of the losing players’ hands at the end of the game or round. This score is then added to the winner’s total.
