Probably the most popular family of tile-based games, dominoes have been around for many years. They are rectangular tiles with two square ends and a number of spots marked on each end.
Origins
Throughout the centuries, the game of domino has undergone many variations. It was originally played in Venetian carnivals and has since spread to Europe, North America and South America. In the early eighteenth century, French prisoners of war brought the game to England.
Today, the game is played in more than 100 countries, including the United States, Argentina, Spain and France. It is a simple game that is played by players who draw seven tiles from a pool of 28 tiles. The goal is to place one of the tiles on one of your opponents’ tiles.
Materials
Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned domino player, you might be surprised at the many different materials that are used for dominoes. These vary according to the country in which you play. Generally, most dominoes are made of wood, but there are also some specialty materials.
For example, some are made from tagua nut, a type of nut native to Central America. These are lighter than ivory and almost as durable.
Other materials used for dominoes include frosted glass, plastic, and wood. Foam dominoes are also common. Stainless steel dominoes are also durable.
Rules
Depending on the number of players, there are various variations of the rules of domino. One of the most popular variants is a four player game with all the tiles dealt. This game is popular in Spain and Latin America. The rules for this game are fairly simple, but the game is very skilful.
Another variant is called Dominoes-Matrix. This is played with a larger domino set. The players take turns moving domino tiles around the board. Each player takes the first turn of the game to lay down a tile.
Variations
Originally a Chinese game, domino quickly spread to Europe and Latin America. It is played by two or five people and the goal is to score points. It is also played in pubs and cafes worldwide. It has different rules depending on the variant, but the basic principle remains the same.
A domino is a set of rectangular tiles with a number of spots on each end. Usually, matching tiles are end-to-end. In some variations, players may use a spinner tile or a branch of different colors. In other variations, doubles are allowed.
Games played with dominoes
Regardless of which version of dominoes you are playing, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind. You can play a game in two or four hands.
If you play with a partner, the goal is to cover the bid. Usually this is done by winning tricks. If you have a ‘key’, you earn double points. A key is when the last card you play can be played on both ends.
When you play dominoes, you can use different strategies to win. For example, you can try to use up high value dominoes before your opponents do. You can also try to block your opponent from playing high value dominoes.