The game of dominoes is a popular family game that has been around for many years. You might be familiar with the classic Mexican Train or Chickenfoot games, but did you know that dominoes are also used to play a variety of other games?
One of these is called domino-toppling, which involves stacking a series of standing dominoes in long lines. If they are spaced properly, the first domino in the line can tip over and cause the rest of the dominoes to fall sequentially, creating a domino effect that can be spectacular.
Rules
Domino is a very versatile game. There are many different variations, but all of them use the same rules and have similar objectives.
The main rule for domino is to play a tile so that its ends match. This means that a double is played crosswise, while singles are played lengthwise.
After each tile is played, a line of tiles is formed on the table. This configuration is called the line of play, string, or layout.
Depending on the rules of the particular domino game, players may score points by attaching a tile from their hand to one end of already played dominoes. Typically, this is done by matching the pips on a double to a single, or by counting the number of pips on a domino as a multiple of 5.
At the end of each round, players count the pips on their own dominoes and add them up. The player with the lowest number wins the round.
Materials
There are many different materials used to make domino tiles. Most modern domino sets are made of plastics, but some are also manufactured from stone, metal or frosted glass and crystal.
Traditionally, dominoes were shaped from bone such as ivory or dark hardwood such as ebony. They were inlaid with contrasting black or white pips.
Today, domino sets are typically made of plastics that mimic the look and feel of traditional ivory sets. Many modern sets also feature a different color for each end value, making it easier to find matching ends when playing the game.
For students with Autism who need to practice their verbal skills, dominoes can be a fun way for them to learn the names of the different pictures or numbers on each tile. The pictures could be photos of classmates, family members or other people the student knows.
Variations
There are several variations of domino, which are generally played in teams of two or three. The rules for each variation vary, and some games have a timer that is used to determine when the game is over.
Players take turns laying single dominoes across the table, matching one half of each tile to the matching end of the domino at the other end. This is called a line of play and usually results in a total of five open ends (i.e., 5-5, 6-6, 6-7 and 4-6).
The ends of the line of dominoes can be joined at any time, either due to space constraints or by whim. Scoring is based on the number of open ends that add up to a multiple of 5.
Block, Straight and Muggins are the most common forms of dominoes, but there are also many other variants. Some of these are more popular in certain parts of the world than others.
Scoring
The scoring system in domino is fairly straight forward. Players score points based on the number of pips on the exposed ends of the tiles they have in hand. Some versions allow scores which are divisible by five, while others make no such restriction.
A popular variant, Hector’s Rules, awards a special play to the first player who plays a double. The prize is an extra tile on their turn.
To win a game of domino, one player must have the highest score by the end of the round or a predetermined point limit. This is typically done with a scoreboard or an electronic scoring device. The best strategy is to get the most out of each round while not making mistakes in the process. The fad of domino tournaments has made the game even more competitive. The most successful players have a keen understanding of the rules of the game and the idiosyncrasies of their opponents.