Dominos are flat blocks of wood or ivory that feature a number of spots called “pips” on each half. They come in various colors, and the most common set has 28 dominoes.
Hevesh tests each section of a display to make sure it works properly before putting them together. This process allows her to refine the design and ensure that everything fits together smoothly.
Rules
There are many different games of domino, each with its own rules. The game can be played with a fixed order of play, or players may rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The winner of the previous hand makes the first play in the new game. This can be determined by drawing lots or by placing the heaviest domino on the table.
Each player hides their dominoes from the other players. The player with the highest double (depending on the game) opens the game by placing this domino on the table (1st move). If he cannot make a play, he draws a domino from the boneyard that can be played to either the double or on any public trains.
If he can make a play, the player continues to do so until he is blocked or his train has no possible plays. At this point the players count the number of pips remaining in their hands and the player with the lowest number is the winner of that round.
Variations
There are many variations to the basic domino game. Players may agree to make changes in the rules of a game, such as counting the total number of pips left in an opponent’s hand at the end of a hand or the entire game to determine scoring.
Other rules change the order in which players take their turns. For example, a player can begin his or her first turn by drawing a tile from the bone pile, rather than waiting for the highest double to play.
A player can also add tiles to a chain that is already in progress by matching the number of pips on an open end of an existing domino. For example, if a chain has a double six, the player can add another domino with a matching number of pips to extend it. This can continue as long as the players can match numbers and add new pieces to the chain.
Materials
Modern dominoes are made of a variety of materials. Most are plastic, but sets can also be found made of metals or stone. The high end sets are often wood and are crafted by true artisans; these sets have hefty price tags that reflect the time and materials used to create them.
Like the playing cards of which they are a variant, domino pieces bear identifying marks on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other. The identity-bearing side of a domino is usually divided into two square halves, each marked with an arrangement of spots, called pips, that correspond to the numbers on dice. Dominos are normally twice as long as they are wide. Each square is marked with a number, ranging from six pips to none or zero (indicated by an absence of dots). These numbers indicate the value of each face in the domino.
Scoring
There are many different ways to score a game of domino, depending on the rules of the particular game-type. For example, some games are played until a specified number of points is reached. In these games, the player with the highest total point wins.
Other games have a scoring system that determines the winner by counting the pips left in the losing players’ hands at the end of a hand or the game. This method of scoring is known as Muggins. It is important to remember that each domino has two ends, but only one end of a double is used for scoring purposes.
The best way to keep track of your opponents’ scores is by counting the dominoes that are not in their hands. If a domino has two available neighbours that it can join to, you should mark those as split, as they will be used up later in the play. This will increase your chances of winning.
