The game of Domino is a family of tile-based games. The dominoes are rectangular tiles with square ends. Each end is marked with a number, indicating the number of spots on the square. The goal of the game is to place as many dominos on each of the ends of the table as possible. The player who lands the last domino on his or her opponent’s board wins. Using your skills and luck, you can win every game of Domino.
The rules of Domino are very simple: place a domino tile onto the playing surface so that it touches one end of the chain. Doubles, of course, are always placed cross-ways across the end of the chain. In addition, tiles played to a double must touch in the middle of the chain. Depending on the number of dominoes that are played in a row, domino chains can take on a snake-like shape.
The game originated in China, and its earliest known mention is in the Song dynasty’s “Former Events” book. It is thought that Italian missionaries in China brought the game to Europe during the 18th century. However, the game did not develop into its modern form until the mid-19th century. Dominoes are now one of the most popular board games, and are found in homes and offices worldwide. Domino is a simple but highly addictive game that is great for both children and adults.
The game is played with six or seven dominoes. Each player picks a different number of tiles. If the player has the most tiles, they lead. If they don’t, they will lose. In a bidding game, players will mentally note the number of spots that are left on the table. When a player chips out, the game ends. In some versions, both players must chip out before the game is over. The partner with the least spots on the dominoes wins.
During each hand, the player who plays the first bone is called the setting, leading, or downing. Domino aficionados call this procedure “smacking down” the bone. The first player then chooses the next two dominos. After each hand, the players draw the required number of bones. Then the play continues clockwise. During this period, the player with the open end of the bone must play the first bone.
The scoring system in Domino varies depending on the game’s complexity. Several games are played with two or four players. In skillful games, the aim is to reach a set number of points, often 61 points. Each player has one hand of dominoes. Matching a pair of dominoes with an open end is called a “trick”. Each player scores when a total of five or more pips is greater than four.
In 19th century rural England, ivory dominoes were used to settle disputes about traditional grazing boundaries. These dominoes were also known as “bonesticks.” Hartley, a legal historian, analyzed this tradition in his book “Land Law in West Lancashire” and a Farm Gazette article published in 1984 discussed the game. The game of Domino was not widely known until the 17th century, but the concept of it remained.