A domino is a small rectangular block with two groups of spots on one side and no spots on the other. Dominoes come in various sizes and are used for various games. Generally, they are played by two to four players. They are usually placed face down on a flat surface. Depending on the game, a single domino can be played by one player, while a set of several dominoes can be played by multiple players.
Some European dominoes are traditionally made of bone, while others are of dark hardwoods, such as ebony. A large domino set is known as a double six. This set includes 28 tiles, which are shuffled and placed in rows. The player with the highest double leads, and then the next double leads the next heaviest domino in the highest suit.
The heaviest domino in the set is the double-six. The tiles in the set are arranged perpendicular to the line of play. Occasionally, the set will be laid cross-ways on the table. To score, a player must find two dominoes that add up to twelve.
When a tile is flipped back over, it is counted as a single or a pair, depending on the number of pips. If a tile has more than ten pips, it is called a heavy tile. In contrast, a tile with fewer pips is called a lightweight one.
In many games, each player has a designated number of pips in his hand. If a player’s hand has more pips than the other player’s, he or she gets to pick the first domino to be laid. During the game, each player will take turns drawing tiles from the set.
One of the earliest records of dominoes comes from Italy in the mid-18th century. French prisoners of war also brought them to England. However, the game arrived in Britain only in the late 18th century. Dominioes can be found in variants in American literature by the 1860s.
Typically, a game of dominoes involves taking turns, placing dominoes on the table, and then blocking opponents’ play. After the tower has fallen, the player with the lowest number of spots wins. Sometimes, the players take turns in order to add more tiles to the line of play.
The first tile played is generally a double-six. Other tiles include the spinner and the 6-five. A fifth tile is a 5-5. Alternatively, a sixth tile is a 6-4, or a 6-4 with one pipped side and one blank side. Another version of the game involves the player with the last pipped tile being the first to lay down all the tiles.
Most games involve a block strategy. Before the game begins, the players must agree on a target score. Players then take turns in drawing and laying down tiles. The game ends when the tower falls.
There are several ways to play dominoes, but the most popular games are the block and the layout games. These games are the most common and require the least amount of strategy. While the most common set is the double-six, larger sets are often used for longer games.
