Dominoes are small flat blocks used as gaming pieces. They are also known as bones, men, cards or pieces. Each has a value determined by the number of spots or pips on each end. Blank sides are considered to have no value in most games.
Standing up a domino gives it potential energy, which is converted to kinetic energy when the domino falls over. The same principle applies to personal behavior: one change can trigger a chain reaction that leads to other changes.
Rules
Players take turns placing dominoes on the table by joining a tile to its matching end of a line. The game starts with a pool of shuffled dominoes that players draw from at the beginning of each round. The player with the highest double usually begins, but some games use drawing lots to decide who plays first.
Dominoes have a distinctive shape and are distinguished by the fact that one side has a pattern of pips from zero to six while the other is blank or identically patterned. The pips-facing side of each domino is called its “noble” and the opposite side is called its “double.”
Most games are played with a standard set of 28 tiles, although extensions that add more pips to the ends are common. These larger sets are sometimes referred to as a double-twelve or double-nine set, and may be used in partnerships/teams of two or four players. These extended sets are often more expensive than the traditional 28-tile set.
Materials
Dominoes are small, flat, rectangular blocks that can be used to play a variety of games. They are sometimes referred to as bones, pieces, or men. The dominoes have a front side that is blank or identically patterned and a back side that contains an arrangement of spots, called pips. Some dominoes are engraved with numbers, while others have no marks.
The most common type of domino is made from plastic. This material is inexpensive and easy to manipulate. It is also lightweight and durable. It is available in a variety of colors. The most popular domino sets are double six and double nine.
There are many methods to analyze the risk of domino effects, including Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Model (CFD/FEM) models and probabilistic models. These advanced models allow users to quantify uncertainties in the data and model of a domino effect, such as vapor cloud explosions. They can be used to help management of a chemical industrial park make informed decisions.
Variations
There are many different games that can be played with dominoes. Some have specific rules that must be followed. Others are more free-form and depend on the skill of players. Some games are played by two or more people, while others are solo games. There are even domino games that have no winner, and are simply a form of entertainment.
The most basic game requires a double-six set, but there are many variations. The most popular are the Block and Draw games. In these, players shuffle the dominoes face down and then each draws seven. The player who plays first is known as the “setter” or “downer.”
In some games, the doubles are used as spinners and can be played on any side, allowing the line of play to branch. Other games, such as Five-Up and Matador, have special rules for matching. Depending on the game, there are also rules for passing and byeing. Usually, the number of rounds is predetermined or the game can be played until a certain point limit is reached.
Scoring
Dominoes are played with a set of domino tiles. Each tile has two ends, and each end has a specific number of dots. Depending on the game, the number of dots is used as a scoring system. In most games, the total score is accumulated over a series of rounds, and whoever has the lowest score at the end wins.
A player who empties their hand scores zero points. In some games, the winner is awarded a number of points based on the value of the other players’ remaining dominoes, rounded to the nearest multiple of five.
To begin a round, a player places a double on the table, which may be put down endwise (a mugger) or sideways (a cheval). Then, other players play onto the exposed sides of this first piece. When the first double is played from both ends, it is known as a spinner. This allows the chain to sprout off both sides of the tile.