Domino is a classic game for families and friends that teaches children the value of sharing and taking turns. It’s easy to learn, and the game can last for hours or even days as players take turns putting down dominoes on a large board. Dominos can also be used to teach counting and number recognition.
A Domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block that’s either blank or bears an arrangement of dots (called “pips”) that are arranged in a regular pattern like those on a die: 28 such pieces make up a complete set. The identifying mark is usually on one face, with the other side being either blank or identically patterned to form a pair, and pairs may be joined together in line and angular patterns.
In domino games, the players’ goal is to add matching tiles from their hand to a layout or tableau in the center of the table. The most common domino games are blocking games, such as Mexican train, whose purpose is to empty opponents’ hands; scoring games, which determine points in the losing players’ hands; and trick and trump games that draw inspiration from card games.
Domino is most often played with a physical domino set, which includes a variety of colors and shapes for players to choose from. Standalone physical domino sets are available that have larger tiles and plastic trays to keep them in order, but any standard double-12 set will work for most domino games. The most popular public domino game is the Dominoes public train, in which players place a domino with a value of 1 on one end to start the game and then continue laying a domino of a higher value on any open end of the previous tile until all sides are full.
There are a few key factors to success when using the Domino: Precise Measurements and Layout: Use a ruler to ensure the Domino is set to the correct thickness, and carefully mark the location of the mortise on both the frame rail and domino to be joined together. The Domino allows the user to set three different mortise widths, permitting some side-to-side flexibility, but it’s best to stick with the smallest setting for most projects to ensure that the joining joint is as strong as possible. A good practice is to cut a test tenon on scrap wood before working on the actual project to optimize settings and avoid mistakes. By following these tips, the Domino becomes a powerful tool in the woodworker’s arsenal.