Most domino games involve placing tiles in a line, called the line of play. This line of dominoes is joined by matching the pips on their open ends. Doubles are played across the line of play while singles are placed lengthwise.
The heaviest tile starts, either by drawing lots or choosing the player holding the highest domino in his hand. The game is then played until one player reaches a set score (typically 100 or 200 points).
Origin
The exact origin of domino is unknown, but it is believed to have come from China. The Chinese ancestor of the game was called “monja”, and it was taken to Europe by European immigrants in the 18th century.
The term “domino” comes from the Latin word dominus meaning lord or master. It was later applied to a type of monastic hood and then to a hooded mask. Finally, it was used to describe a type of domino tile.
Domino has appeared in the X-Men comics, including as the partner and confidant of Cable, a lieutenant in his militant group X-Force, and a member of her own team. The character has also been portrayed in two limited self-titled series and by actress Zazie Beetz in the live-action film Deadpool 2. The real Domino is an expert markswoman, a mutant with probability-altering powers, and a loyal friend of Rogue.
Rules
Almost all domino games fit into four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games. In blocking and scoring games, the winner earns a score based on the number of dots left in his opponents’ unplayed dominoes.
Before every hand players must thoroughly shuffle the dominoes. If a domino is exposed during the shuffle it must be placed on the proper end of the line of play (except for doubles which are played across the line).
The player that draws the heaviest tile will make the first play of that hand. This player is known as the “hand.” During the course of the game, the hand may change players. When no player can play, the round is over. The winning player adds his total to the sum of his opponents’ scores.
Variations
There are many variations of domino, including different rules for matching and extending a line of play. For example, some games such as Chicken Foot require all sides of a spinner to be occupied while others such as Matador and Bendomino have unique rules for pairing doubles.
Some games also use different ways to score. The most common scoring method is to count the total number of pips in each player’s tiles at the end of a hand or game, and award that amount to the winner.
Players can also play several domino variants that utilize larger sets of tiles. For example, Mexican train is a popular variant that uses a double-twelve set. This allows the player to make more pairs since each domino has four possible ends.
Materials
Dominoes are a great way to develop children’s core maths skills. This is because the games are based around numeric patterns, and can help build problem solving and strategic thinking skills. Children also learn about the importance of planning and patience when building up dominoes.
Traditionally, domino sets were made from natural materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl) or ivory and a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on them. Such dominoes are still available, but are often more expensive than modern polymer materials.
Many sets come in their own storage boxes, which vary from simple cardboard boxes to vinyl snap lock cases. Some wooden cases even have a cribbage board built into them.
Scoring
In the classic domino game, players begin with seven tiles. Each tile has a number of spots on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other. If a player cannot play a domino, they draw from the remaining boneyard until they find one that matches an open end of the board.
Scoring is based on counting the numbers of open ends in the line of play, which must add up to multiples of five. A running total is kept on a scoreboard or cribbage board.
Some games, such as Muggins, use a different scoring system that counts each domino’s pips in a player’s hands. This allows players to block each other, which increases the complexity of the game. Other scoring systems count multiples of five or more, such as in the game 5s-and-3s, played in several competitive domino leagues.