Dominoes – Origins, Rules, and Glossary of Terms

domino

A domino is a rectangular tile with two square ends marked with number spots. When played correctly, you can win by having all the tiles fall on your opponent’s turn. You can also win by accumulating as many spots as possible. Several variations exist, including the domino “dash” game, which is a combination of two games that involves moving and resetting the tiles. In this article, you will learn the origins and variations of the domino game, the rules, and a glossary of terms.

Origins

The origin of the domino game is shrouded in mystery. Many historians claim that the game was invented in China around 1120 AD, but others place the invention much later, between 181 and 234 CE. Its first known set of dominoes was found in the tomb of Tutankhamen, who ruled Egypt’s 18th dynasty around 1355 BC. Regardless of the origins, the game has grown to include many variants and variations.

Variations

In its basic form, dominoes is a two-player game in which the players take turns selecting seven tiles from a double-six set. They then take turns picking dominoes from the stock. To avoid confusion, players shuffle their hands before picking a tile. In some variants, players must pick seven tiles at a time, which increases the number of possible outcomes. Those who score the highest win the hand, unless a double is drawn.

Rules

The main goal of the game is to create enclosed spaces, known as cells, using domino tiles. Each ‘cell’ is a specific area that is worth one point. The graphic illustration below illustrates examples of cell creation and tactics when using Game Option 1. A blank is a wild card that can connect to itself. The first player to complete a cell gets the game to a point. The remaining tiles in the game become the “boneyard.”

Glossary

If you’re a newbie to the game of dominoes, you may not know what these words mean. Dominoes are small rectangular wood or plastic blocks, whose faces are marked with dots similar to dice. The game usually involves 28 dominoes. The American Heritage Dictionary lists domino in its fifth edition. The Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company owns all rights to the game.

Slang terms

There are many slang terms for domino. Some domino games are regionally specific and have slang terms that may not be common in other areas. For example, a domino game in Texas is often called “bar of soap,” and one in Cuba is known as a “centipede.” Regardless of the region, however, there is usually some slang that applies to all domino games.