Players begin by drawing a number of tiles depending on the game rules. The player who has the highest double (e.g., double-six) starts the game by placing this tile in the center of the table.
The value of each player’s remaining domino tiles is then compared, and the winner scores points by subtracting his or her own from each opponent’s total. The resulting sum is called the “winning score”.
Origin
Domino is the result of a top-secret government breeding program intended to develop a precognitive mutant. Her power allows her to influence the laws of probability, shifting odds in her favor. This can vary from making improbable events occur to causing enemy equipment to malfunction.
Domino appeared in two limited self-titled series and a main storyline recalled by Cable in X-Force #8 (March 1992). An imposter, the mutant shapeshifter Copycat, assumed Domino’s role for some time.
Domino games likely originated in China and then spread to Europe, surfacing in Italy and France in the 18th century. The game also made its way to North America, where it was introduced by Chinese sugar field workers and learned by Mexicans working alongside them on railroad construction projects.
Rules
When playing domino, players should be familiar with the rules of the game. These are usually based on the order of play, the number of points awarded for each domino, or a combination of both. There are many different games of domino, and the rules vary from one to another.
Each player draws a set of tiles that they can use for the game. Then they place them on the table face down. When a player discovers that they have drawn more than their share of tiles, they must return them to the stock without looking at them.
The first player to get rid of all of his dominoes wins the game. Players then count the pips on their remaining tiles and add them to the winner’s score.
Variations
There are many variations of domino, each with its own rules and scoring methods. Some games depend upon matching suits, while others use the number of pips on each end to determine scores. The goal of most domino games is to maintain the initiative and score points before your opponents do. Some games also try to reduce the board count, preventing your opponent from rescoring on their next turn.
Matador uses unusual rules for matching, while Bendomino uses curved tiles that can block one side of the line of play. Other variants allow the line of play to branch, using doubles as spinners (which have pips on all four sides). Some games also count both ends of a domino when scoring. This is known as a “double count”. However, most players agree to only count one end of a double.
Materials
Dominoes are made of a variety of materials and have been molded into different shapes and sizes. They have also been painted and decorated to create a variety of visual effects.
Domino is a fun way to develop children’s core maths skills as well as their hand-eye coordination and colour recognition. They are also great for building patience and concentration as they build up the rows of dominoes.
Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide and feature a line in the middle to divide them visually into two square halves, one with an arrangement of dots called pips (or blanks) and the other with a number value (usually between zero and six). The pips or numbers are generally molded or engraved on either side of the domino.
Scoring
In many domino games, players accumulate points during play for certain configurations, moves or emptying their hands. The points can be recorded on a cribbage board or another scorekeeping device.
In some Domino variants, such as 5s-and-3s, scoring is based on the number of dominoes that can be joined together by their ends. A domino may be added to the end of a line of dominoes only when its numbers match. For example, a six at one end and a four at the other makes nine, which is divisible by three, resulting in three points.
In Muggins, a player scores each time the open ends of a domino in a line of play are a multiple of five. This scoring method allows more possible lines of play and a greater understanding of available scoring plays.
