Domino is a board game that involves players competing to get rid of their dominoes by placing them in lines on the table, either side by side or end to end. There are many variants of the game, but all share some basic rules. Players must make sure that the lines of play are filled in before attempting to add more tiles, and they must not hold back a domino for strategic reasons.
The word domino is derived from the Latin “dominium,” which means “added weight.” The name probably refers to its use as a counterweight in games of chance. A domino is a flat rectangular tile with an arrangement of dots, or pips, on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. The pips give each domino its unique identity.
A domino is made of heavy, durable clay or plastic and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Some are marked with a picture or a word, while others have just the numbers or letters that identify them. There are even special sets that contain only doubles and triples for playing the more advanced games.
When playing Domino with multiple people, it is important to agree on a set of rules and establish seating arrangements before the game begins. In most cases, seating is determined by drawing a domino from the stock. The player who draws the domino with the most pips seats himself to the left of the next highest player. If a tie exists, the players draw new dominoes until one of them has the largest number and takes his seat.
Most domino games involve a line of dominoes that is built up as each player makes his plays. Depending on the game, this line may be played crosswise, with each player’s dominoes played across the same pips, or lengthwise, with the dominoes added one at a time until the dominoes match up in a row of equal pips. The first domino in the line is called a lead or a set, and the player who sets it has the advantage of having an additional move on his turn.
Some games also feature a boneyard, a pile of spare dominoes that can be used by players when they cannot make a play on their turn. The players draw dominoes from this pile until they can add a domino to the layout, and they are penalized if they miss their turn by drawing a domino that is not needed for the next play.
When connecting frame rails with a Domino joining machine, the first routed mortise can be precisely routed, which increases the strength of the joint, or it can be left with clearance to make the join more convenient. Either way, it is always good practice to make a few test cuts on scrap wood before proceeding with the actual project. This will help you fine-tune your setup and ensure that the results are consistent.