Domino is a game of skill and strategy that is popular around the world. The basic rule of domino is to place one piece over another so that the exposed ends line up, or match up, with each other. A small chain reaction then occurs that causes the remaining pieces to fall down, usually one-and-a-half times their original size. While domino is a great family activity and can be played on a small scale by children, the game has also been used as an analogy to explain complex ideas to young people.
Each domino has a pattern of spots or “pips” on its face that differentiates it from its adjacent neighbors. This unique side is known as the identity-bearing side, while the other two sides are blank or identically patterned. The number of dots on a domino, or its value, determines the type of game in which it can be used and the rules that govern its play.
There are many different games that use dominoes, and each game has its own unique set of rules. The most common domino games involve positional play, where a player places a tile edge to edge against another to form a specific total or some other condition. The first player to do so wins the game.
In addition to positional games, a number of matching and scoring games are played. The majority of these are adaptations of card games, used as a way to circumvent religious proscriptions against playing cards. Some of these game types are solitaire, and a few are trick-taking.
A typical domino set contains 28 tiles, arranged so that each of the four pairs of opposite sides represents the results of throwing a pair of six-sided dice (2d6). In order to increase the number of possible combinations of pips on an end, many sets have been “extended,” adding new ends with increased numbers of dots. The most common extended dominoes are double-nine (55 tiles), double-12 (81) and double-15 (136).
Each player draws the number of dominoes specified by the rules for the particular game in which he is playing. If a player draws more than the number required for his hand, these extra tiles are passed to the player to his right without being looked at, and the stock is reshuffled.
The first player begins the game by placing his domino in the center of the table, face up. Each subsequent player then plays a domino in turn by placing it edge to edge against another, or with the line of play, depending on the game’s rules. In most games, doubles are joined crosswise with the line of play, while singles are joined lengthwise. The game continues until one player has placed all of his tiles, or the players are unable to make further plays. The game then ends and scores are calculated.