Domino is an exciting game that can be played with a variety of people. There are many different strategies that can be used to win the game. Some of these strategies include blocking games and scoring games.
Players begin the game by laying their starter doubles in a row or line called a “train”. Then, each player puts a marker on their train.
Origin
Domino games are played around the world. The game has spread to other cultures and has even made its way into the modern lexicon. The word “Domino” probably derives from the black domino half-masks worn by Christian priests in winter. It is also possible that the name was inspired by the fact that the game’s pieces look like a chain of linked beads.
The earliest known mention of domino comes from China in the 12th century. However, these accounts are largely legends. One account says that a Chinese soldier named Hung Ming (181 – 234 AD) invented dominoes to keep his soldiers awake during nightwatches.
A European version of the game was introduced to Britain in the late 18th century, possibly through French prisoners of war. It became a fad and soon appeared in many British inns and taverns.
Rules
There are different rules and regulations that govern the game of domino. Generally, these rules apply to the specific type of domino being played. Some of these rules involve the order of play, scoring methods, and even how to draw dominoes for your hand.
Some games require that the first player draws a domino from the stock. This domino must be the heaviest double or single in their hand. If a tie exists, the player with the highest domino wins.
In many games, the players must play their tiles so that a train is formed. This train can be either the player’s private train or a public one. A player can also play a doublet cross-ways in the layout so that additional tiles can be played against both sides.
Variations
There are many different domino games, each with unique rules that affect the game’s play. Some require that the line of play is not touched by any other tile, while others require that each end of a spinner must have a matching number. Some even require that each player plays a certain number of tiles in a turn.
The game also varies in how the players interact, with some playing to block their opponents’ trains while other players seek to add to them. A variation called Matador, for example, uses special rules for matching, while Bendomino involves curved tiles that cannot be played perpendicular to each other.
Another variant called Draw is similar to the Block game, but players may draw until they have a tile that can be used to complete a train. This variant is often played with partners.
Materials
Dominoes are typically made from a variety of materials. The cheapest are wood, and the most expensive are made from a type of ivory called tagua, a close-grained nut. Other sets are made from clay or even marble, and some feature color dots instead of numbers to make matching them easier.
In the 19th century, domino manufacture took a huge leap forward when the first plastic was developed, known as Bois Durci. It was followed in the 20th century by Bakelite, and later, by plastics made from petroleum. Some of these plastics are used to make domino sets today. They are often coated with a finish to prevent scratching and are waterproof. These dominoes also use a special type of tenon, which makes them more durable and stable than traditional mortise and tenon joints.
Scoring
Depending on the game type, the scoring system is an important part of domino. Players can keep track of their score on a cribbage board or use a traditional paper record. In some games, the total score is accumulated in rounds or until one player reaches a set number of points.
In addition to the initial double played, each player may add a new tile to their own train or to another player’s public train (called a Mexican train). A train can have up to two tiles.
At the end of a hand, the winning player subtracts the value of each opponent’s exposed domino ends, rounded to the nearest multiple of five, from their own total score. This method of scoring is quick, reliable, and easy to read.