Dominoes are a great way to teach kids about the domino effect. This concept is when one simple action leads to much greater-and sometimes catastrophic-consequences.
A domino, also known as a bone or cards, is a rectangular tile with two ends, each of which contains a number of dots called pips. The number of pips determines the value of the tile.
Origin
The word domino is thought to have originated in the early 18th century. It first appeared in a French dictionary as a term for the hooded garment worn by priests over their surplices. The resemblance between the garment and a domino piece in terms of color and shape may have led to this association.
The game first appeared in Europe in Italy, then moved to France where it became a fad. It arrived in Britain late in the 18th century, possibly brought to the country by French prisoners of war.
Domino is also the name of a popular chess variant played on an irregular board. The domino effect is an idiom describing the way that one small trigger can lead to a series of events that continue to grow in size and complexity.
Rules
There are many different domino games, with rules that vary from place to place. Some of them are very simple, while others are much more complex. In general, a player must match one end of his or her domino to the end of another tile that is already on the table. If a player is unable to do so, they must draw from the boneyard until they find a domino that matches.
A standard set contains a single unique piece for every combination of ends with zero to six spots. There are also extended sets, such as double-nine or double-twelve that contain more pieces. The unused dominoes are shuffled before the players draw their hands, and the player who draws the highest double starts play.
Variations
Domino games come in many variations, from a basic block game to more elaborate scoring and matching games. Generally, players play until a player clears their hand of dominoes. The winning player may be awarded a certain score, typically determined by counting the pips in their opponent’s remaining tiles.
The most basic domino game requires a double-six set, 28 dominoes are shuffled and arranged into a 4 X 7 grid face down. Each player draws a hand of seven tiles. The remaining tiles are called the stock or boneyard. During the first round of the game, each player must add a tile to his or her train. The next player then places a marker on the end of their own train, making it public and allowing other players to add to it.
Materials
Dominoes are flat, thumb-sized rectangular blocks that contain a number of spots or dots. Each domino is marked on one side with a symbol representing a number between 0 and 6. The other side of the domino is blank or identically patterned. A complete set of dominoes consists of 28 tiles.
Modern dominoes are made from a wide variety of materials, including plastics, metals, stone and wood. Many of these are mass-produced, but there is also a market for high-end sets made from finely carved wood or other exotic materials.
The domino effect is a phenomenon in which one event causes another, and that event triggers even more events. It can be seen in a variety of contexts, from train delays to political risk.
Scoring
Some variants of domino allow players to play tiles either endwise or sidewise. These are often called sniff and cheval games. A player may also choose whether a double should be played to one or both arms of the layout. This option allows players to take advantage of their favored suits and avoid the disadvantages of blocking.
Some variants use a scoring system that subtracts the value of each unplaced piece from the opponent’s total. This method works well with Holsey and Tidwell’s X scoring but doesn’t work so well with a cribbage board. Nevertheless, it’s quick and simple to calculate. It also makes the game more exciting and provides an opportunity for strategy. The score is usually rounded to the nearest multiple of five.