Domino is a game of skill and strategy. It’s also a great way to get together with friends or family. The rules vary between games, but there are some basic guidelines that will help you get started. The most important thing is to have fun and keep an open mind. Once you learn the basics, you can explore a wide variety of domino games.
A domino is a rectangular tile with a number of dots or pips on one side and a blank or identically patterned surface on the other. Unlike playing cards, which have a single suit, dominoes belong to two suits: the suits of threes and nines, and the 0 suit. Each domino has a unique set of pips and a number of dots or pips, which distinguishes it from other tiles. The pips on a domino are arranged in a circle around a central axis, and each pipset is part of one of the two suits.
The most common sets of dominoes commercially available contain 28 double six tiles. Larger sets exist, but these are typically used for domino layout games that require many tiles to play. The most common type of domino play falls into two categories: blocking and scoring games. Blocking games involve laying tiles across the board to form a line of dominoes, and scoring games require players to make a set of matching pips.
To begin a game of domino, each player draws a number of tiles from the boneyard that is allowed by the rules of the specific game being played. The player then places his or her tiles in front of him in such a way that the other players cannot see the pips on them. The player then plays a domino from his or her hand by placing it on an adjacent spot in the line of play, adding to the existing lines of dominoes.
During the course of a game, each player will form a train of tiles, known as a “train,” that connects to other dominoes in the form of a chain. Normally, the train must be completed by placing a domino with all the necessary pips on the end of it. The first player to complete his or her train wins the round.
If a player can’t finish his or her train, the other players may attempt to close it by drawing new dominoes from the stock and playing them in place of the old ones. If this process continues until all the trains are closed, the winning team is determined by the total value of the pips on each of the opponent’s remaining dominoes.
Originally, dominoes were held in place by a pivot, but these are now usually attached to the edge of each domino. The pivot is more commonly referred to as a spinner and is sometimes included with the tiles in modern sets. Sets are available with or without a spinner, but the choice is largely a matter of personal preference. Sets with spinners may be easier to shuffle, but they can also scratch the table, so some players prefer to use sets without spinners.