Dominoes are a type of tile game. Like playing cards, of which they are a variant, dominoes have identifying marks on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other.
Each player draws six dominoes for his hand. Then he arranges them in the layout according to the rules of the specific domino game being played.
Rules
A traditional domino set has 28 pieces, with an arrangement of spots (also called pips) that range from one to six on each end. The other face of each piece is blank or identically patterned. These pieces are called “doubles.”
Each player should shuffle the dominoes before playing a game. The person who shuffles should not look at the tiles, so that they remain hidden from other players. A single player may shuffle for himself before each game or a pair of players may take turns shuffling before each round.
The winner scores by making the number of domino spots in his opponents’ hands a multiple of five. This is done by counting the dominoes, excluding doubles and other non-doubles. A score of ten points is the most common. Larger sets can also be extended by adding additional ends with increased numbers of spots. This is done to increase the maximum number of possible combinations of end values.
Materials
The pieces of a domino set are made from various materials, including plastics, metals, and stone. They are usually twice as long as they are wide and have a visual line down the middle to separate them into two square halves. One half of each tile has an arrangement of dots called pips, while the other has blank or identically-patterned faces. The number of pips on each end of the domino determines its value, with a piece bearing more pips indicating a higher value than a piece bearing fewer pips.
Many types of dominoes have been made over the centuries, and some are more valuable than others. These high-end sets are often crafted from multiple types of wood and have hefty price tags that reflect the amount of labor involved. Other kinds of dominoes are more common, such as those made from cardboard or hard plastic.
Variations
The number of different ways to play domino is nearly limitless. Each variation has a unique set of rules and scoring methods.
The most basic game involves two players using a double-six set of dominoes. The 28 tiles are shuffled and arranged into a boneyard, also known as the stock. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock.
Obstacles are removed by scoring points by laying one domino at a time so that the exposed ends of the two adjacent doubles match (one’s touching one’s, two’s touching two’s, etc.). If the total of the exposed dots is a multiple of five the player scores that amount.
Another common scoring method is to count the total number of pips in the losing player’s hands. This method is often employed in blocking games. The winning player then adds that number to his score. In some games, the winner of a hand may alternate who starts the next hand by choosing whichever double has the highest value.
Scoring
Players score points by laying dominoes so that their ends match, with the exception of doubles, which are played across the line of play. If the exposed ends total a multiple of five, the player is awarded that number of points.
The game continues until one player empties their hand, or no player can make a play. In the event that a player cannot make a play, they must draw from the boneyard (the remainder of the dominoes) until they have a domino they can use.
Keeping track of the outstanding dominoes is important, especially for a player who is on the block. Some players may also find it useful to have a separate domino count sheet to keep track of the numbers they are unable to play. As the size of the dominoes increases, identifying their pips can become more difficult. This makes the game more challenging and can result in a greater variation in scoring.
