Domino is a game played with a set of flat rectangular blocks (dominoes), divided visually into two squares by a line or ridge. Each domino bears identifying marks on one side and is blank or patterned with spots, or pips, on the other.
A common domino set consists of 28 pieces, and larger sets may be used for games with multiple players. In a typical game, each player adds tiles from his or her hand to a layout in the center of the table.
Rules
A standard domino set consists of 28 tiles, shuffled and placed face down on the table. A player draws seven tiles from this stock to play with on their turn.
The first player to draw a double or a domino from their hand plays it, then lays it down next to an adjacent single. Then the other players follow suit.
In a popular variation, called Muggins, the number of open ends on a single domino may be counted – and one point awarded for each multiple of 5 on those ends. In other variations, a player may make a play off the ends of a double.
The standard domino set is composed of 28 tiles, with seven doubles (similar numbers on both ends) and 21 singles. A range of progressively larger sets are also in use, each introducing additional pips on the ends.
Variations
Many variations of dominoes have sprang up in different periods and places. These may be related to various cultures or even a combination of the two.
The most common set of dominoes is a double-six set. The tiles have dots or pips on each side from 0 to 6.
Some of the more common dominoes are made of ivory, while others are shaped from animal bone. The first European-style dominoes were likely fashioned from sheep or cattle bone by French prisoners of war.
These are often referred to as “bone-shaped” dominoes. The dots are drilled into the bones and then inlaid with pieces of ebony. In the 19th century craftsmen started using thinner pieces of animal bone affixed to thin pieces of ebony.
Materials
There are a number of different materials used to make dominoes. These can include plastic, wood, bone, ivory and stone.
Wood is a very common material for domino tiles. It is also used for domino racks and accessories.
The most commonly used woods for domino tiles are pine, cherry, oak and walnut. These are often layered and finished with lacquer.
They are also more durable and can withstand the wear and tear of use.
However, these materials do have some drawbacks. First, they are very light and unstable. This makes it more difficult to build stable constructions.
They are also not suitable for vertical domino constructions, because the blocks won’t stand upright on all sides. This also results in a slightly unequal weight distribution, which makes it harder to build complex chain reactions.
Scoring
Dominoes are long, thin tiles usually divided visually by a line. Each side has a number of pips, or spots, and the higher the number of pips the heavier the tile. In the common version, known as double-six, the values range from six pips to none or blank.
One of the most interesting things about domino is that each player can have a different score depending on how many pips he has in his hand. This can be a serious advantage in some games, particularly when playing against a team of rivals.
Some players like to take the scoring system a step further and count the open ends of each domino when placing it. This is done on a counter or cribbage board and can be a fun way to measure the strength of your hand. For example, if the total open end pips is 5 in your hand you will score a point for that. The trick is to be able to find the best ways to maximize the number of points you will receive.