Domino is a game of chance and strategy that helps to develop your child’s spatial awareness and colour recognition skills. It also teaches them to manage their hand-eye coordination and fine motor ability.
After the stock is shuffled, the player holding the highest double (or heaviest single) begins play. The first player may be determined by drawing lots or by the rules of a specific domino variant.
Origins
Dominoes are a generic gaming piece, much like playing cards or dice. They can be used to play a wide variety of games, some simple and some very complex.
The term ‘domino’ probably derives from Latin’s dominus, or master of the house, although it may also be based on a hooded cap with black and white lining worn by French priests. The game first arrived in Britain in the early 18th Century, probably via French prisoners of war.
Each domino represents one of the 21 possible results of throwing two six-sided dice (d6). They are usually made of bone or wood and some are carved from ivory. Each domino has a different number of pips on each face. Unlike European dominoes which have blank faces, Chinese sets include duplicates of some throws and even separate the pips into suits. The game is played with a set of ‘base tiles’ and additional ‘flag pieces’. Typically, players build 5×5 or 7×7 regions on their turn, scoring for each different type of land – multiplied by the number of fire symbols within it.
Rules
There are many variations of the rules for domino, depending on where a game is played. The basic rule is that each player must play a tile onto the adjacent square of the same color, producing open ends of either two or three. Each end is marked with an arrangement of spots, or pips, similar to those on a die.
Most domino games require a certain number of rounds, and the winner is the first player to reach a target score or amass a given number of points. Some games also have special rules relating to doubles and blanks, and different rule variants may apply to scoring.
Some games determine seating arrangements by drawing lots, or by the heaviest piece in each player’s hand. Others allow players to draw a new hand after a tie is broken. In some cases, players may decide to count the pips in their opponent’s unplaced tiles as part of the total score.
Materials
Over the centuries, domino pieces have been made from a wide variety of materials. These materials have varied from stone to wood to a type of plastic called bakelite, which was invented in 1917 and used for dominoes until the 1950s.
Today, domino sets are often made of plastics, metals, and wood. Some are crafted from sustainable or recycled materials. Others are designed to be as beautiful as possible and add a touch of elegance to any home.
Dominoes are great for fostering children’s core math skills, and also develop their problem-solving strategies and artistic expression. The game can also help kids build their motor skills by requiring precise hand movements. It can also promote social interaction and patience as players must work together to complete a set. In addition to these benefits, a domino rally kit can be a fun way to learn about shapes and colors.
Scoring
Domino scoring depends on the game-type or setting. Typically, rounds are played until a specified number of points is reached. The winning player is determined based on his or her score at the end of a round. In cases where players are partnered, each player’s score is added to the other partner’s hand. The player with the lower score wins.
Each turn, a domino must be placed so that its matching ends are touching. This develops a chain that gradually increases in length. The exposed ends of a domino are called the “boneyard”.
Points are scored when the exposed ends of a line of dominoes total any multiple of five. Depending on the variation, some games only allow scores which are divisible by three or make no such restriction. In the event that no one can advance and a stalemate occurs, players are awarded the points sitting in their opponents’ hands rounded to the nearest multiple of five.