Almost everyone has a set of dominoes in their games closet somewhere. Often times, the classic draw game is played and then forgotten. This is a shame because there are many fun and interesting ways to play dominoes games with two players. Rather than burying those dominoes, get them back out and invite a friend over to play some of these different types of games.
One of the easiest and most popular games to play with dominoes is Domino. This is the foundation for a number of other games that follow, and it is a very good place to start with any new player.
The basic rules are simple and the game is played by two players. Each person takes seven dominoes and keeps them hidden from the other player. They then turn over a domino from the scrap pile or Boneyard, setting it as the trump for the game. Then they try to match it with another tile from their hand. If they can do so, they win the round. The first player to win all their tiles is the winner.
When a domino is matched with another domino, the touching ends must match (ie, one’s touch one’s or two’s touch two’s). In most cases the resulting line of play, which develops from the initial doublet, has a cross shape. This is a result of the fact that doubles, which must be played crosswise, can only be paired with other doubles. This makes the pattern of the line of play a bit like the pattern created when a neuron fires.
If you have a double that is a spinner, it must be placed so the exposed dots are aligned to the center of the domino. All other doubles, unless they are a spinner, should be played at right angles to the adjacent domino.
In most domino games, the pips on each end of the exposed domino are counted to determine the score. For example, the 3-5 domino may be scored as a 3 or 4. The count is determined by adding up all the points on the exposed ends of the line of play.
The winner is the player who scores the most in a round. In some games, the winner is the first to reach 100 points. The other way to score the game is by counting the total value of all the unplayed dominoes remaining on each player’s hands.
The word “domino” probably comes from the Italian verb for “to knock”. Just like a firing neuron, a domino’s pulse travels down its line until it hits an obstacle and stops. Then it begins a new cycle, triggering another domino to fall and so on. The result is a domino chain or cascade that can extend far down the line of play. It is a fascinating and beautiful sight to behold. This is also the basis for many exciting and creative domino games. Whether you are looking for a simple, classic, or more challenging game, you can find it with a little time and effort on the internet.