Dominoes are flat thumb-sized rectangular blocks that bear identifying marks on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other. They are used for various games played by matching dominoes end to end in lines or angular patterns.
A player draws the number of tiles required for his hand from a stock or boneyard, depending on the game rules. He then plays the first tile on a line of play called a layout, string, or chain.
Rules
Players take turns placing a domino on the table. The placed domino must touch both ends of the existing chain (or one end of a double). This way, the chain develops a sort of snake-line pattern, and each turn is linked to the previous one by the adjacent dominoes.
When a player cannot play, they “knock” on the table to let their opponents know they’re passing. The opponents then make a note of the numbers available for future plays.
The tiles are shuffled before the players draw their hands. The player who draws the highest double goes first.
The players may add a domino to their personal train or to a public train, called a Mexican train. A player may also remove a marker from their train, making it public. Upon completion of the hand or game, each player totals the value of the dominoes in their possession (excluding those on their trains) and scores the difference between their own and their opponent’s points.
Materials
Various materials have been used to make dominoes over the centuries. Some of the more popular modern ones include plastics, metals, and stone. In the beginning, a domino was made from animal bone. It was twice as long as it was wide. These days, a domino is made of a plastic material similar to Bakelite.
This type of domino is very inexpensive, and can be easily found in a variety of department stores. However, these dominoes are not very durable and can sometimes fall apart or slip when stacked on top of each other.
The best domino sets are those that are made of a high-quality wood. They are more consistent and well-suited for building different types of lines, fields, and structures. They also have a rough surface for better gripping. These dominoes usually come with a storage box for keeping track of scores and winnings. The H5 Domino Creations domino set is an excellent example of this kind of set.
Variations
There are many different variations of domino, with differing rules for the line of play and how to count tiles. Some games require that all sides of a spinner be occupied before players can add to it; others, like Chicken Foot and Matador, have unusual rules for matching suits. Some variants use curved tiles, and one or both ends of the line of play may be blocked for geometrical reasons.
In block domino, players take turns laying domino halves end to end, scoring points for each pair. The game requires a double-six set and can be played by up to four players.
Another variation is All Fives, also known as Muggins. This two-player game uses the same basic rules as block domino but rewards players for accumulating multiples of five. Each player has their own personal train, which they mark by placing a marker on it. Other players can add to this train, but if the player cannot play any of their dominoes they must pass.
Scoring
Domino is a game of skill that requires deductive reasoning to learn the strategy of your opponent. It also combines tactical considerations with the desire to score the most points in a hand. The player who has the highest count wins the game.
The scoring system is similar to that of dominoes, with players laying tiles so that their ends touch (one’s touch 1s and two’s touch 2s). If the exposed pips total a multiple of five, one point is scored per tile. If the pips are a multiple of three, two points are awarded.
A player may start a game of Dominoes by drawing a lot to determine who begins play or by having the winner of the last hand play first. The player who starts the game by playing a double, or by placing the heaviest double, will be the initial leader. The game continues until a player can no longer add to their train.