The Basics of Domino
Domino is a game with many variants, rules, and scoring systems. The most common games are positional and involve matching tiles or placing them edge to edge on one another so that the adjacent faces are identical, or form some specified total. The word “domino” derives from the Latin dominus, meaning lord or master, which fits the game well because it is a game that encourages thinking two moves ahead. The rules for domino vary greatly from place to place, but nearly all of them fall into four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games.
In the earliest days of the game, domino was used to mark a boundary or a line. A game began in a certain area, and then, as the pieces fell, it extended outward to other areas. In later times, the game was played with dominoes that were arranged in a straight line to create a picture or other structure. These types of games are still popular, and a few of the more advanced players compete in domino rallies, where they attempt to set up the most elaborate domino display before a live audience.
A domino is a rectangular tile with a printed image on one side and a number of raised dots or pips on the other. It is most often made of pressed clay, but it may also be of hardwood, plastic, or metal. The raised pips on the surface of the tile indicate its value in terms of points scored in various domino games. In addition to the pips, a domino has a hollow center which can be filled with sand or water for added weight and stability.
Most domino games are played with a full set of 28 dominoes that are shuffled together and arranged face down to form a stock or boneyard. Each player then draws seven tiles from the stock for their hand, and these are placed on-edge so that each player can see their own, but not the value of their opponents’ tiles. When a player draws more than the number of tiles he is entitled to, these are returned to the stock without looking at them, and the stock is reshuffled before the next player begins drawing his hand.
The player who draws the heaviest tile, whether it is a double or a single, will make the first play of the game. In some games, the rules state that if there is a tie, it must be broken by drawing new hands.
A player’s goal in any domino game is to score the highest possible amount of points. To do this, he must match a domino in his hand to the closest existing tile in the line of play and then place the new tile on top of it. A player who makes an incorrect or illegal play must remember it and recall the tile if it results in a loss of points for his team.
