Domino is a tile game, and can be played by a single or three players. A set of 28 tiles is required to play “standard” dominoes. Players take turns drawing one domino from the set. They must then place the tile on the table so that two adjacent ends are touching. The tile must have a number on at least one end.
In a traditional European domino game, the pieces are usually made of ivory or bone. There are several different types of domino sets, but most contain twenty-eight or forty-two tiles. These are normally grouped in sets of six or nine. Some sets also have a double-nine or a double-twelve.
Before the start of a game, a set of points is agreed upon by the players. For example, a point limit of 150 is usual. Points are awarded based on how many spots the other player has left on his or her domino. When there are no legal plays left, the game is over.
When playing the standard game, the first player draws a single domino and places it face up in the middle of the table. He or she then chooses a second domino to play. This is called the “block” domino game.
Once the player has played a tile, the next player must play a tile to match the first tile. Typically, the tile with the lowest number is drawn. However, some variants of the game may require that the player chip out the entire hand.
After playing the tiles, the players take turns to place additional tiles to form lines on the board. If a tile has a blank end, it is counted as 0 and 14; if it has a number on it, it is counted as 1 or 2.
The first player plays the heaviest hand. If the first player has a double, he or she leads with a double-six. Next, the heaviest domino in the suit of the double is played. Alternatively, the player can lead with a double-four, double-five, or double-six.
If a player has a domino with the same number on both ends, they are said to have “stitched up” the domino. Generally, the lower number is listed first on the domino. Depending on the variation of the game, the second player plays the third or fourth tile.
After the last player has played all of the tiles in his or her hand, the game is finished. If the players have blocked, a player with the lowest hand wins. It is sometimes possible to block the other players in a domino game. While this tactic is useful, it is not recommended in a basic match.
In some variations, a time limit is placed on each turn. If the player cannot finish a round within the time limit, he or she will be penalized with a draw. As the set of dominoes grows, the difficulty in determining the pips increases.
Traditionally, the sets were made of dark hardwood, such as ebony or ivory. These games are widely used all over the world.
