What is domino? A domino is a rectangular wood or plastic block with a face marked with dots, much like a dice. Each domino has a number of dots on its face, which indicate the number of adjacent blocks, and a game is played when a player manages to match all of the pieces in a row. The game of dominos usually requires at least 28 dominos. To learn more about dominos, check out the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition, by HMH Publishing Company.
Origin
The Origin of the Domino is a bit obscure. Some historians believe that it was first played in ancient Rome, but others believe that it originated in China. Whatever the true origin, the game was first played in the royal courts of king Tutankhamen. The game spread quickly throughout Europe and the Americas, and eventually gained widespread popularity. It is also said to have originated among Inuit tribes in North America, where it was popular in drinking taverns.
Rules
The Rules of Domino are simple and straightforward: each player begins with the same number of tiles. As the dominoes are placed adjacently, the playing ground expands. Players may only leave tiles if they match the number on both ends of the board. If they cannot find matching numbers on either end, they must discard all of their tiles. In the event that they do, they will have to begin again with their original tiles. Typically, there are only two possible outcomes: either the winning team wins the round or the other team scores.
Variations
There are many variations of the classic domino game. In the most traditional version, two players lay down dominoes on top of each other, matching the ends. The player who plays first must double up on identically colored tiles. In the five-up version, the player must make five pips to win. In other variations, players may play dominoes of one color or another. Here are a few of the most common variants:
Materials
The materials used to make modern dominoes are incredibly varied. Thanks to the vast maker community, you’re sure to find someone who makes a domino from a material you never thought of before. Common mass-produced materials for dominoes are Plastics, Metals, Stone, and Wood. However, you can make custom-made giant yard dominos from special materials such as cork and foam. These are not your main focus, though, so you’ll need to make sure you pick the right material.
Variations of the Draw Game
One variation of the Draw Game is called the Block game. In this variation, the player can score points in each move and must divide the total pip count by five. Another variation is the Double Bergen game. The player who makes the last play or empties his hand gets two points. The player who wins the blocked game also scores two points. In both variations, the goal is to reach the highest score. There are many variations of the Draw Game, which are discussed below.
End of the game
In domino, the end of the game comes when a player has played out of turn, and there are no more plays available. This is called a misplay, and the player must recall the tile before his next play, and stand if the opponent discovers him before he can make another play. If the player is able to realize his score before his next play, he is rewarded with that score. Almost all domino games fall into one of these four categories.