The Basics of Dominoes
Dominoes are small, rectangular game pieces that have a back and face. They are usually a half-inch thick and are about twice as long as wide. Many games can be played with them. The traditional European dominoes are made of ivory or dark hardwood. Their faces are decorated with a line or pattern that symbolizes the results of throwing two dice.
There are three main types of dominoes, each with its own character and rules. Most domino games are adaptations of card games. Some games include the use of pips, which represent numbers. If the number of pips on an opposing player’s tile is a multiple of five, it counts toward the hand’s total. Other games involve the player taking tricks from the opposing team.
In the simplest version of dominoes, the first player draws seven tiles from a set. The first player can then play either the six-to-six, four-to-five, or five-to-five tiles. Once the hand is completed, the next player takes turns adding dominoes to the platform. This may be done by extending the line of play, or by drawing from the unused tiles.
Playing dominoes can also be a great way to test one’s skill. Often, the game is a test of patience. To be successful, players must be able to match tiles at the right angles to create an “L” in a layout. Another popular variant of dominoes is skillful dominoes, which is played in pairs. When the pair reaches a certain number of points, they win.
A set of dominoes can be bought in a variety of colors and sizes. Some sets incorporate Arabic numerals instead of pips. As a result, it can be difficult to determine the pips on an individual domino. Similarly, identifying pips becomes more complicated as the set grows.
One of the most popular domino games is called the 42 game. Four players are paired into teams. Before the game begins, the players must agree on the score they want to achieve. Generally, the target is 61. Each team member has a hand of dominoes. Each of the tiles has a number, which is represented by spots.
To play dominoes, a player must position the piece so that it touches one end of a chain. Typically, the player must place the tile perpendicular to the double’s contact point at the center of the chain. Alternatively, the player can lay the tile with the number on only one end of the chain.
Depending on the type of dominoes used, players can add tiles to any line of play. The most common version has six pips. However, the double-nine set has 55 tiles, which is more than enough for most domino games.
The block game is the simplest domino variant. To play this version, each player must have a double-six set. After the first player shuffles his hand, the second player picks a tile and plays it. While the other player chips out his tiles, the third player draws from the remaining unused tiles.
