The Basics of Dominoes
Originally known as a mask and a hood, domino is now a generic term for a set of cards that is used in a variety of different games. The game came to England in the late 1700s, where it was introduced by French prisoners of war. The game soon became popular in France and the United States, and eventually spread across the world. Today, dominoes are one of the most popular games to be played in Latin America.
A set of dominoes is similar to a set of playing cards, but it is marked with an arrangement of spots. Each domino tile has a number printed on each end. The game is played by strategically placing tiles so that they form a particular total. The first player chooses one tile and lays it face-up in the middle of the table. Players take turns turning over two tiles at a time. If the tile they play does not add up to 12, the players must turn it back and draw another tile. If the tiles do add up to twelve, the players keep them and continue playing. If the players do not have any more tiles, the game is finished.
There are several different variations of dominoes, but the most common ones are the double-12, double-9, double-6, and double-5 sets. Each domino is roughly 1 inch wide, with a line running down the center of each tile. They are typically made of dark hardwoods such as ebony, or ivory. In addition, some European dominoes are made from mother of pearl oyster shells.
When playing dominoes, players use their hands to “knock” off a tile. The tile is a rectangular object that is marked with a number on each end. If the player knocks off the tile, he or she cannot move that tile. This prevents the player from being able to move and thus forfeits the player’s turn. The player must then play the remaining tiles.
The first player draws one tile to form his or her own domino. The second player then draws one tile and plays it. This second tile must be identical to the first tile. A fifth tile is played next. A sixth tile is played next, and so on. The player with the least number of spots wins the game.
The game can be played with one player, or up to eight players. In some versions of the game, both players must chip out to win. In some games, a player may be able to chip out a tile without having to knock it off. In other games, a player may not be able to knock off a tile, but can chip off another tile instead. There are no sudden death rules in dominoes, although some popular bar games have rules that allow a player to knock off a tile without having to knock off a previous tile.
Most domino games are designed to be played with a double-6 set, although some games are designed to be played with a larger set, such as a double-15. The size of the set depends on the number of players. For example, a set of double-18 dominoes is large enough to play with four players, but the game would be too large for three or four players.