Domino is a game of skill and chance. It is a popular game with many variations and rules. It is a great way to exercise the mind and body.
In some games, you can earn points by counting the open ends of a line of dominoes. These ends are considered to be the “edge score.” For example, if a player places a double that makes the edge score multiple of five they will receive that score.
Rules
There are many different domino games, but most fall into four categories: bidding, blocking, scoring, and round games. In all games players compete to get rid of their dominoes first and score more points than the other players. The winner of each hand starts the next hand. If a player cannot make a play his turn passes to the next player.
Once the stock is shuffled, each player draws a number of dominoes for his hand. The player with the heaviest domino makes the first play. The rest of the players take turns laying down dominoes with matching ends. The number of ends that match is the value of the placed domino.
The game continues until all the dominoes in one players hand are played or until the player scores 101 points. When the round is over, the players count the total value of all the remaining dominoes in each other’s hands. Any exposed double is scored counting both ends; however, a blank counts as zero points.
Materials
Dominoes are small, flat rectangular game pieces that have been made in many different materials over the years. They have one side that is patterned with dots, like those on dice, and the other side is blank or identically patterned. Dominoes are usually twice as long as they are wide.
Ideally, the domino should be thick enough to stand upright on its standard end when connected to other standard ends. The thickness of the domino may vary, but there are some standard sizes that are used in most games.
In addition to the actual dominoes themselves, there are some accessories that can make playing domino more fun and convenient. These include a domino rack, a score pad and pencil, and a carrying case. For some games, a domino table is necessary to provide stability and prevent the dominoes from tumbling over. A sturdy wooden domino table is ideal, but a regular dining room or kitchen table will also work well.
Variations
There are many variations of domino. Most are layout games in which players add tiles to a domino block that is placed on the table. These can be blocking games, in which the objective is to empty one’s hand, or scoring games that draw inspiration from card and board games like cribbage.
One popular variant is called Muggins. This is played with a set of 22 dominoes, excluding the 0-0 tile. Each player draws seven dominoes and takes turns laying them in a line, ensuring that each end matches an adjacent domino. Scores are made when the exposed ends of the dominoes in the line of play add up to a multiple of five.
Another variation is called Straight Dominoes and is played with a set of singles. This game is similar to Muggins but allows for play off the ends of doubles. Moreover, the heaviest double in any player’s hand leads, just as in Muggins.
Scoring
In scoring domino, the winning player gains additional points based on the value of the remaining dominoes in opponents’ hands. These points are usually rounded to the nearest multiple of five. The value of a domino may also be referred to as its rank or weight, and a heavier (or “heavier”) one is often described as having more spots or pips than a lighter one.
In addition to the traditional blocking games, scoring Dominoes may be used in various forms of a game of cribbage. This game is played in a number of British pubs and social clubs, where players can compete to reach a score of 61 points.
For a more complex version of this game that uses a larger domino set, players count the ends of the chains as well as the middles for scores. This variation is called Odd Primes and is described in the late GAMES AND PUZZLES JOURNAL by G.P. Jellis.