The domino is a tile-based game with many rules and variations. The basic principle is that players add tiles to the line of play by positioning them so that their pips match those of an adjacent tile.
The first player to do this wins the game. The rules for this game differ widely from place to place.
Origin
Domino is the result of a top-secret government breeding program. She has mutant probability-altering powers and works as a mercenary for Cable, a member of the X-Men. She has also appeared in a number of video games and live-action films, including Deadpool 2.
The word domino is thought to have come from the French for a black with white hood worn by priests. It may also be related to the Latin dominus, meaning master of a house or school. It became a popular name for games that were played in family parlors and then later in pubs.
The Domino theory is a political doctrine that asserts that the fall of one communist country will trigger the fall of noncommunist countries around it. It was formulated by President Harry S. Truman and was popularized by his successor, Dwight D. Eisenhower, to justify U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia.
Rules
In a game of domino, players play their tiles into a line. They may either place a single or double tile perpendicular to the previous one. The resulting shape of the line is determined by the player, but usually, it develops into a snake-line according to the whims of the players. Depending on the rules of the game, the number of rounds is predetermined or played until one player’s score passes 101 points.
To score in a game of domino, count the open ends of the dominoes that have been placed. For example, if the number is a multiple of 5, divide by 5. The winner of the round adds to his score the value of all the dominoes remaining in his opponents’ hands.
Variations
Dominoes have a variety of different variants. Some are blocking games, while others involve scoring based on the number of dominoes in a player’s hand at the end of a round. There are also games with spinners, which allow lines of play to branch. The goal of a game of Muggins is to score every time the open ends of all dominoes played add up to a multiple of five.
The most common domino variant involves a double-six set of domino tiles. The tiles are shuffled and formed into the stock, or boneyard, and each player draws seven dominoes for their hands. If no one can make another play, the game ends. Another scoring method is to count the number of pips left in players’ hands at the end of a hand or game and award the winner that amount.
Materials
Over the centuries dominoes have been made of many different materials. These include plastic, bone, ivory and stone. They are usually twice as long as they are wide and are marked with an arrangement of numbered spots called “pips,” or blanks that represent zero.
Most domino sets are white with black pips, although they have been made in other colors. Some have red pips, others are multi-colored or even have a picture printed on them.
Some players arrange a stack of tiles in their hand, but most find it easier to hold them on a tile rack that supports the tops of the dominoes standing up on end. The racks range from simple cardboard boxes to more elaborate cases with a cribbage board built into the lid.
Scoring
Domino is a game in which players compete to empty their hand while blocking opponents’ play. Many games use a domino set with a specific number of spots or suit, although larger sets can be used for games requiring more complex strategies and scoring systems.
When a double tile is played, the exposed ends must match – one’s touching one’s, two’s touching two’s and so on. Then the open ends are counted, and if they total any multiple of five, the player scores that amount.
When a player can’t add a new tile to their train, they draw from the boneyard and continue to score points based on the dominoes in their opponent’s hands. Depending on the game-type, the players may also be penalized for holding a bloated hand.
