Dominoes are small tiles that represent dice. They have a rectangular shape with a line down the center and each end has a number.
A domino set typically consists of 28 unique tiles. They are made from various materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl (MOP), ivory or a dark hardwood like ebony.
Game rules
Dominoes are played with 28 tiles, which are shuffled face down before the game begins. They are then placed on-edge in front of the players so that they cannot see their own dominoes or their opponents’ dominoes.
The first player to play sets a tile and places it on one of the free ends of the domino chain, gradually increasing in length. The player to his left adds a tile to one of the free ends and so on, clockwise around the table with each player adding a new tile.
Normally, the dominoes are joined end to end in lines but doubles can be joined cross-ways across the matching number.
Scoring is determined by counting the pips on the open ends of the dominoes that are played on. Points are awarded to the player who is able to attach a domino from his hand to one of the end tiles so that the sum of the pips on the two ends is divisible by five or three.
Materials
Dominoes are small flat tiles made from wood, bone, or plastic that can be used to play many different games. They are divided into two squares by a line down their center, and each end has a number of spots—called pips—or blanks.
Like dice or playing cards, dominoes can be played by shuffling them or arranging them in stacks. They are also used in trick or capture games, where players must make certain combinations of tiles to win.
Traditional domino sets have one unique piece for each possible combination of numbers from one to six. These are commonly called “double six” sets, although larger domino sets exist with more than 28 pieces.
Early dominoes were carved from bone. However, the material was scarce and expensive, so craftsmen substituted thinner pieces of animal bone affixed to thin slices of ebony. Today, most commercial domino sets are made of synthetic materials.
Variations
Dominoes are a type of playing card that can be used to play different games. They are made from wood or plastic and come in a variety of colors. They also come in shapes and sizes.
The identity-bearing face of each domino is divided into two squares by a line, and each side has pips. The values on each half of the domino’s face range from six pips to none or blank.
Depending on the game rules, dominoes can be played either as a blocking or scoring game. In blocking games, players try to release their dominoes before their opponents do.
In a scoring game, players can score points by playing dominoes with certain numbers on their faces or by matching the number of open-end pips on an end. Typically the lowest score wins after three rounds.
One popular variation is 5s-and-3s, which is often played in pubs and social clubs in the UK. In this game, players attach a domino to one end of an already-played domino in each “end.” The goal is to make the sum of the end tiles divisible by five or three.
Scoring
Most domino games involve the use of a scoring system. This is generally done by subtracting the total number of pips in each player’s hands from their previous score, which is usually rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of five.
One popular scoring system involves playing a large X made of two lines crossing each other. This is a good way to represent a single point, though this symbol can be achieved using other methods.
Another good idea is to play a tile that will make the sum of the exposed ends of a domino a multiple of 5. This may be a double, or something less impressive.
There is also a scoring system known as 5s-and-3s, which is similar to the classic drawing game except that players can score points if they can play a piece that makes the sum of the exposed ends of the layout divisible by five or three. A version of this game is commonly played in British public houses and social clubs.