Dominoes are a family of tile-based games. They are rectangular tiles with square ends marked with numbers. The goal is to get as many of them to reach the end of the board as possible, and if you succeed, you win the game. You can play against a partner, or against the computer.
Variations
Unlike the standard game of dominoes, variations are usually played by two players. Each player picks seven tiles from the double-six set (28 tiles in total). After the player has placed all his or her tiles, he or she takes turns extending the line of play by placing the matched tiles in front of the first tile. The player with the highest score wins the hand. The other player draws from the remaining tiles.
The most common domino variation is the block game. In this variant, two players pair up. Each player takes a hand of seven dominoes, and each trick counts for a point. A player can score 42 points if he matches all of the open-end dominoes.
Rules
The Rules of Domino are simple and follow several basic principles. First, each player must place a tile on the playing board. If there are two matching tiles, the player with the higher number wins. Otherwise, the player with the lowest number wins. Depending on the game version, players may also play as a pair. The objective is to match as many tiles as possible in order to score as many points as possible.
Cells are enclosed spaces that contain half of the domino tiles. A player scores one point for every cell he or she creates. There is also a wild card called a blank tile. If a blank tile connects to another blank tile, the player may play any domino on that side of the line.
Variations of the game
There are many variations of the game of domino. The most basic variant is played by two players, each holding seven domino tiles. The objective is to make your opponent’s hand as small as possible. There are also variants that involve blocking and scoring. These are outlined below. The rules for each variation will differ slightly from the Basic Rules.
The most basic game of domino is played with two players and a double-six set. Players draw seven tiles from a stock, usually placed on an edge so that players can see their own tiles as well as their opponents’. This variation also utilizes five-up dominoes, which are multicolored. Doubles are also used as spinners and can be used to branch out.
Origin
There are several theories about the origin of the domino game. One popular theory says that it was invented by a Chinese nobleman, Keung T’ai Kung, during the 12th century. Another version gives credit to the Chinese hero soldier Hung Ming. In 18th century France, domino puzzles became popular. The puzzles required players to arrange tiles on a pattern of pips.
While the game’s name is obscure, some scholars believe the word originated in Latin. The Latin word dominus means “master” or “lord,” and the word domino is a shortened form of the word.
