Domino – A Game With Endless Creativity
Domino is a game with rules that allow for endless creativity and fun. From straight lines that form a track for a train to curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids, domino can be used in many ways to make amazing art.
The basic game of domino involves a player placing one tile on the table in such a way that it touches a previous tile in a straight line, a curve, or a cross-way pattern. Each tile has a set of markings, or pips, on it that identify its position within the set. Depending on the specific game, the number of pips may vary. The number of pips on a given tile is determined by the arrangement of dots and their placement, as well as the number of adjacent dots, on the other tiles in the same set.
In the game of domino, each player takes turns placing a domino so that its two matching ends are adjacent to one another. The shape of the domino chain then develops as it grows into a snake-line or other shape according to the whim of the players and the limitations of the playing surface. Generally, when a player plays a domino with a number showing at both ends, that end must be placed perpendicular to the other (unless it is a double).
When a player can’t play a domino in his hand, he “knocks” or raps the table and play passes to the next player. Normally, the game continues until one player “chips out” or plays his last domino, although in some games it stops when the chain of play is so long that no player can proceed and it becomes impossible to continue.
Historically, domino sets were made of ivory, bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl, or MOP), or dark hardwoods such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on them. More recently, sets have been made of a variety of other natural materials such as stone (marble or granite); soapstone; metals (e.g., brass or pewter); ceramic clay; and frosted glass.
Some people choose to use the blank sides of dominoes as wild cards and ascribe values to them based on their appearance. This is called “bluffing” and can increase the fun of a domino game.
Some domino games involve emptying a hand of all the dominoes in it, while others are scoring or blocking games that test the players’ ability to think strategically and their skills at counting the dots on each domino. Dominoes are also great educational tools for teaching children math and counting skills. They can be used to practice basic math operations such as addition and subtraction, as well as to learn about patterns and shapes. The word “domino” is also used to refer to certain types of business processes or activities, particularly those that are large and complex and that take a considerable amount of time and energy to complete. Good examples of business dominoes include outlining finances, creating a financial plan, and implementing that plan.
