The Basics of Dominoes
Dominoes are a kind of playing card or game. They are usually divided into two squares, the ends. Traditionally, they are made from dark hardwood such as ebony or ivory. However, they are also available in plastic or paper. There are several varieties of dominoes and variations of the game, including trick-taking, solitaire, and a few games that duplicate the game of playing cards.
Dominoes are a cousin of playing cards. Each domino is marked with an arrangement of pips, or spots. These markings were originally designed to represent the results of throwing two six-sided dice. A domino can have one or two pips, depending on the game.
The most common type of domino has pips on both ends, but some versions of the game have only pips on one side. The total number of pips on each end determines whether a player scores. If a domino has a number of five or more pips on both sides, it counts toward the player’s total. On the other hand, a domino with a number of four or less pips on both sides is considered a double.
Originally, dominoes were made from ivory. This style of domino is now commonly called “bonesticks.” Ivory dominoes were used for settling disputes over traditional grazing boundaries in rural England in the 19th century. Other dominoes are made from silver-lip ocean pearl oyster shell, and are traditionally fashioned in a dark hardwood.
Despite the name, most of the games that involve dominoes are not based on the traditional Chinese or European forms of the game. There are several other domino games, including Mexican train, chicken foot, and matador. In addition to these games, there are several other variations of the game, including games that do not feature wind blowing cards or a pattern of tiles to form the letters L and U.
Most domino games involve taking turns to add tiles to a platform. Players take turns, and if they do not have any dominoes in their hands, they must draw from the unused tiles. Before the game begins, players must agree on a target score. Typically, players can score with a variety of methods, including pips awarded on their opponents’ tiles, and with the number of spots they occupy on their own tiles.
Players must play their tiles on the table, or the floor, so that they are in one of the two end squares of the domino chain. The tiles are normally twice the size of their width, so they will not fall in between other dominoes when the chain falls. The first tile played is generally a six-tile. Next, the player will play a fifth tile, which is five-five or five-four.
After the first round, players take turns in extending the line of play, and in some games, they may also add or remove tiles. When a player is done, he or she shuffles their hand.
Dominoes were first recorded in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. Prisoners of war brought them to England, and the game began to spread.