A domino is a small rectangular block bearing from one to six dots or pips. It is normally double-sided and has a line in the middle that divides it visually into two squares.
The player who makes the first play is called the setter, downer, or lead. He should draw a tile from the stock and place it in the center of the table.
Origin
The history of domino is shrouded in mystery, although it is known that the game was originally invented by Chinese. The origins of the name are also unclear. Some scholars have suggested that the word is derived from the Latin dominus, meaning master or lord. Others claim that the name derives from a type of hood worn by French Priests, or from the fact that the domino pieces were once black on one side and white on the other, resembling this garment.
The first commercial domino sets were made of ivory glued together with gum or albumen (eggs or blood). This material was soon replaced by a kind of plastic called bakelite that allowed manufacturers to advertise on the backs of the tiles. Later, craftsmen used tinplate to make the majority of commercial dominoes.
Rules
The game of domino can be played with two or more players. Each player draws a set of domino tiles (also called bones) and places them face down on the table. The first player to reach an agreed-upon number of points, such as 250, wins the game. To score, each domino’s spots are counted and the value of any doubles is added. The winning player also receives the sum of all other players’ remaining dominoes, rounded to the nearest multiple of five.
Before each game begins, the players must shuffle their tiles thoroughly. Then, the first player (determined by drawing lots or by who holds the heaviest hand) puts down his heaviest domino. This first tile must be played adjacent to all four sides of the second tile.
Variations
Dominoes come in different sizes and shapes, and each variant has its own rules. Most of the variations are based on the number of dominoes that are able to be placed in a row, but other factors can also affect the game’s rules, such as scoring and blocking.
The most common domino game involves two players and a double-six set of dominoes. The tiles are shuffled and each player draws seven from the stock (also known as the boneyard). The players then take turns placing domino halves on edge to edge so that the open ends of the dominoes add up to a multiple of five.
Typically, the first player to place a domino on his personal train takes the next turn. This prevents other players from adding to the player’s train.
Materials
Over the centuries, dominoes have been made from a variety of materials. Traditionally, European-style sets were made from thin pieces of bone, silver lip oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or a dark wood such as ebony, with contrasting white or black pips inlaid on each piece.
Nowadays, dominoes are made from less exotic materials such as foam or plastic. However, some manufacturers still make sets from more exotic materials. For example, one company offers a domino set made from recycled aluminum, which is an environmentally friendly material.
These dominoes are also available in a range of colors, including black and white, making them easy to match and connect. Moreover, they have a smooth surface that is ideal for building lines and fields. In addition, these dominoes come in a storage box that makes it easier to keep score.
Scoring
Domino is a game in which players take turns placing tiles. Each tile has a value, which is determined by the number of pips it contains. A large X, for example, represents 10 points, and each small X on the sides represents five points. The player with the highest score wins a round of the game.
In a scoring version of the game, called 5s and 3s, players score when the sum of the open ends of two previously played tiles is divisible by three or five. One point is scored for every pip in the open end of each tile, with doubles counting as either one or two. This game is popular in British pubs and is often paired with darts to form competitive “Darts & Doms” leagues.
