Dominoes are a flat, rectangular block used for a variety of games. The most basic game involves a “double six” set, or 28 dominoes that are shuffled and placed face down in a stock.
When one domino falls, it creates a chain reaction that travels down the line. That energy comes from the potential energy stored in each domino.
Origins
Invented in China, domino is one of the oldest games still played today. It’s also a favorite of kings, presidents and commoners alike around the world.
The origins of domino are still shrouded in mystery, but some historians believe that it was developed in China in the 12th century. Other scholars suggest that it was first invented in Egypt and Asia from a much earlier time.
Some etymologists have suggested that the name domino was given to it because of the dark markings on the white faces, which reminded them of masquerade ball masks. The game became popular in Europe in the mid-18th century, and it is still enjoyed by people around the globe.
Rules
In the game of domino, players lay tiles end to end except doubles, which are laid across the line of play. Numbers on the ends of these dominoes must match.
The first player takes a domino from the left of his row and places it face up in the centre of the table. He then plays passes to the next player who tries to join his domino to the one in the centre. If there is no match, the game is stale-mate and the players must start again with fresh tiles.
The score is determined by the total number of dots on each domino in the player’s hands at the end of the hand or game. This count is rounded to the nearest multiple of five and added to the winner’s score.
Materials
Dominoes are a form of tile game that is played all over the world. They are popular because they are easy to travel with and can be used in many different games.
They are made of various materials and can be engraved with pips, numbers or images. They are traditionally made of bone or ivory, but can also be made from a variety of natural materials: stone (e.g., marble, granite or soapstone); other hardwoods (e.g., ash, oak, redwood and cedar); metals (e.g., brass or pewter); ceramic clay; or even frosted glass or crystal.
While European-style dominoes are usually made of ivory or a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips (inlaid or painted), they can also be made from a variety of synthetic plastics. Some of these are urea and acrylic, which can be purchased in regular stores. Others are marble, which can only be obtained by skilled craftsmen and are not sold in most places.
Variations
Dominoes are small, rectangular blocks that are used as tiles in a number of different games. They have a number of different variants, and they can be made from various materials such as bone, wood or plastic.
Originally, dominoes were meant to represent the results of throwing two 6-sided dice. They were first introduced in Europe during the 18th century, and they have since become an extremely popular game.
They’re easy to play and don’t blow away like cards, so they’re a great choice for a range of games. They’re also very affordable, making them a perfect gift.
There are several variations of dominoes, each with their own rules. Some of these games are very simple and can be played with a single set of dominoes, while others have complex rules that require a lot of skill.
Scoring
The scoring system of domino is simple. Each tile that is played must be positioned so that two matching ends are adjacent.
Whenever possible, players should try to push the board count up by a multiple of five tiles before their opponents’ make a scoring move. This will make it more difficult for your opponent to score and give you a better chance of winning the game.
The scoring is similar to that of Muggins, except that the number of exposed ends is multiplied by 5. If the total pips on the exposed halves add up to a multiple of five, the player (or team) gets one point.