Domino is a tile game that can be played against one or more players. Each player takes turns adding dominoes to a platform. The player who reaches a certain score wins.
The game typically begins with a platform of 3 or 4 dominoes. The first player picks a tile and places it in the middle of the table. The second player must match the first player’s tile to at least part of the first tile. For instance, if the first player plays a 6-6 tile, the second player must play a 5-5 tile to the right.
Once the first round of dominoes has been played, the players draw a hand. The first player must determine which of his tiles is heaviest. He draws either a single or a double.
If he has a double, he must lay it perpendicular to the line. In some versions of the game, a double may be laid across the entire layout. In other versions, all four sides of the double are considered open.
The second round of the game is played in the same way, with the only difference being the number of dominoes that the first player has. This is called the “Concentration” variant.
Before the game begins, the players must agree on the target number of points. For example, if the goal is to reach 100 points, the players must make sure that each domino is not more than two spots away from reaching the desired number of spots. After all the pips have been added, the winner is the player who has the most points. A final rule is that if any of the tiles is a double, they are counted as one or two.
Domino is a fun and easy game to play with family or friends. It can be adapted to various models and types of sets. One version requires both partners to chip out tiles. Another variation is a trick taking game. There are also blocking games and scoring games.
Traditionally, European-style dominoes are made of dark hardwood, such as ebony. The back of the dominoes can be blank. They are often decorated. Although the origins of the game are unknown, they were introduced to Europe in the mid-18th century. French prisoners of war brought the game to England in the late 1700s. By the 1860s, it had been widely adopted in the United States.
Although there are many different variations of the game, the basic principles are the same. Players take turns drawing tiles from a hand and placing them on the playing surface. They must be placed in the correct direction and place the tiles so that the opposite ends of the chain are matched.
The first tile that is played is usually a double-six. The player can play a second or third tile, but the third tile is usually a vertical or horizontal. These tiles produce open ends of 4 and 5. As with the first two tiles, the fourth tile creates open ends of 4 and 5.
Most Western dominoes are used for positional games. However, they have been found in several variations including a solitaire game and a game of concentration.