The Basics of Dominoes
A domino is a small, rectangular block, usually about two inches wide, marked with an arrangement of pips. In its simplest form, it represents the roll of two dice. However, it is also used for many other games. It can be decorated, and the back is often blank.
The game of domino was first known in Italy, France and Austria in the 18th century. Prisoners of war brought the game to England and it became popular in Britain by the late 1700s. By the 1890s, dominoes were also used in Europe and Latin America.
The game is played by four players, who select 12 tiles each. Each tile carries a number and must be placed so that two corresponding ends of the chain are adjacent. If a player cannot place a tile, they must pick a sleeping domino and draw from it.
There are a variety of domino games, which range from positional games to trick-taking dominos. One popular variant is the “concentration” version, in which a player must reach a specific number of pips before play can begin. Some versions require both partners to chip out their pieces, while other variations do not.
Most traditional domino sets feature a unique piece for each possible combination of numbers. Typically, these sets are called “double six” sets. They contain a total of 253 tiles. This is too large to be used in most domino games, though.
Traditional dominos are also available in many different color combinations. For example, a set may be blue with white pips, black with red pips, or even yellow with red pips. These varieties do not allow for Chinese suit distinctions.
In some versions of the game, tiles are allowed to be joined to all four sides of the double. However, in this case, additional tiles are only placed against the long side of the double.
Before the game starts, each player should agree on a target score. To reach this goal, the players take turns adding dominoes to the platform. When one player has reached their desired score, the game ends. Typically, the sum of all the pips on the opponents’ tiles is awarded to the winner.
Dominoes are typically made from wood or plastic. Although most of them are molded, there are some that are blank.
In the most common variant, the number on each end is represented by a spot, and the face of the tile is divided into two squares. These squares are separated by a line down the center.
Dominoes can be painted or drilled. Some designs are even blank. The back of the domino is also able to be decorated. Depending on the domino’s design, there can be a line down the middle.
The first domino a player draws is generally a double-six. Unless there are more than six dominoes in a set, the players start with a number of seven dominoes. Unlike cards, the dominoes have a face.
Using the same domino, the first player then chooses the tile they want to play and places it face up in the middle of the table. Next, the player must lay one of the other ends of the domino on the same part of the first tile. Alternatively, the player can knock or rap the tile onto the table.