Dominoes are rectangular pieces with a unique arrangement of spots or dots that are used to create games. They also have many nicknames, including bones, cards, tiles, or spinners.
As the first domino falls, its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, which pushes on the next domino. This continues until the last domino falls.
Origin
Domino is a game that involves laying a chain of small rectangular blocks numbered on both sides. These are often referred to as bones, pieces, or men, and they can be made from a variety of materials. The word domino is also used as a figurative term to describe events that are expected to follow one another in a predictable manner, such as a country becoming a Communist state after another has done so.
The game was first introduced in the West in the early 18th century. It was popular in Italy and subsequently spread throughout Europe. It arrived in Britain late in the same period, possibly via French prisoners of war, and quickly became popular in British inns and taverns. The word domino is derived from the Latin dominus, referring to a type of mask worn in Venetian carnivals that was white with black dots, similar to the game’s pieces.
Rules
There are many different rules and regulations associated with domino. Some of these apply to specific types of domino, while others are universal. Generally, the line of play is a continuous chain of tiles, with the dominoes placed so that their pips face in the same direction. Doubles are played across the line of play, while singles are placed lengthwise.
Each player draws the number of tiles permitted by the rules for the game being played. The players may also buy additional tiles from the stock (See Passing and Byeing).
Each domino must be played with a matching end. A tile with two matching ends is referred to as a spinner and must be played on all four sides in most games. In some cases, the first double is required to be a spinner and all other doubles must be played on all four sides.
Variations
There are several variations of domino, and each one changes the game’s outcome. Some of these are simple additions or rules that change the order in which players take turns, while others add new dimensions to the game’s strategy. Some examples include Mexican Train, where each player tries to make their train as long as possible. This variation removes the need to play a double tile on your turn, and it makes the game more interesting by adding more luck to the game.
Other games such as matador and muggins also change the line of play rules. These games use curved tiles that have two sides that can be played, resulting in a line of play that branches. These variants are also classified as advanced models.
Materials
Dominoes can be made from a variety of materials, including polymer clay. This type of material can be molded into any shape and then painted with a choice of dot colors. This makes dominoes a fun craft for adults and children.
For games that require keeping score, individual players may wish to use a small narrow wooden or cardboard box that is open on one side and long enough to hold many stacks of domino tiles. These boxes allow easy counting of points and tricks.
Begin by preparing your mold by cleaning it thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol and then masking it to prevent fingerprints while demolding. Fill your needle point bottle with your desired acrylic paint dot color. Press each dot into the soft clay, beginning with the first domino in the top row and continuing with all the other dominoes in each successive row.
Scoring
The scoring system in domino is critical to the game’s success. The winner of a hand scores based on the value of all the opposing players’ tiles, rounded up to the nearest multiple of five. A double-blank counts as zero points, and a six-six may be scored as either one or two depending on the game variant played.
Players score points by laying a tile with matching ends touching (1s touch 1s, 2s touch 2s etc.). When a double is exposed at a right-angle to the chain, the pips on both ends must total a multiple of three or five for the player to score that end. The rest of the exposed ends are counted as normal. The uncovered double is known as the spinner.