Domino, also known as dominoes, are a family of games that involve arranging and building configurations on a flat surface. Each piece of a domino set is rectangular, thumb-sized, and marked on one side with an arrangement of dots (called pips) that corresponds to the numbers that would appear on dice. The other sides of the tiles are either blank or identically patterned, and so can be used in several different ways to form a variety of games. Dominoes are the direct descendants of ordinary six-sided dice and have become one of the most common tools for game play. They are used for a wide range of games, from simple ones requiring little calculation to complex competitions that test skill and endurance.
Most domino games are layout games, where players add tiles from their hand to a layout in the center of the table. There are also blocking and scoring games that focus on keeping one’s own dominoes out of play; trick and trump games that draw inspiration from card games; and solitaire domino games that use only the tiles in one’s hand to create a single, self-sufficient configuration.
The most common domino games require a standard double-six set, but many variations can be played with a smaller or larger set of dominoes. Each domino has two square ends that are labelled with an arrangement of dots, called pips, from 0 to 6. The number of pips on each end of a domino determines its value and how it can be used in the game.
Domino is a fun way to get your family and friends together for a game night. It’s easy to learn, so you can pick it up and begin playing in a matter of minutes. Once you’ve mastered the basics, try out some of the more advanced strategies and techniques in the more challenging games.
The game starts with 28 domino tiles, shuffled and placed in a pile called the boneyard or stock. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock. The first player then begins to place dominoes on the board, placing them in rows and forming chains of adjacent tiles. Each player must follow the chain by adding a domino with a matching value to an open end of the previous tile in the chain. If a player cannot add a domino to the chain, they must draw tiles from the stock until they find a match or miss their turn.
The goal of the game is to be the first person to complete a full row of dominoes by linking the ends of your tiles in order from left to right, starting with the highest valued end. When you do, you win that round. However, each round consists of a number of rounds that are played with other players, and the winner is determined by the total point score for that round. A high score earns you points and unlocks new rewards, including the Superwheel, where you can spin for exciting prizes!