Domino is a kind of game that is played by laying out and removing tiles. The aim is to eliminate your hand by blocking your opponent’s hand, while at the same time completing a target score. A number of domino games are used, from solitaire to trick-taking.
There are several kinds of dominos, including Chinese, European, and Latin American versions. They are usually rectangular, twice the length of their width. Usually the size of the domino is determined by the number of players. For instance, a double-nine domino set requires nine tiles to start. This is larger than most sets, so it would be too large to be useful in most domino games. Some larger sets use Arabic numerals instead of pips.
In traditional Chinese dominos, each tile has a face, whereas in European and Latin American versions, they are either blank or have a white ivory or silver lip oyster shell face. Traditional Chinese domino games are Che Deng, Pai Gow, and Tien Gow. These can be played alone, or in pairs.
Traditionally, the dominos are made of dark hardwood, such as ebony, or ivory, or mother of pearl. European-style dominos are also made of bone or silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell. However, some of the most popular versions of the domino, such as Singapore’s Hector’s Rules, allow you to add two or more tiles to your opponent’s hand.
The first player draws the tile he or she plans to play, then arranges it in the middle of the table. When the player is ready, the next player takes a turn and matches the edge of the domino to part of the first tile. Generally, this is done by placing the tile perpendicular to the double’s center, if it’s a single, or across the double’s center, if it’s two.
Most European-style dominoes are constructed of bone, ivory, or silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell, although some other materials are used. One common version of the domino is the double-six domino set, which consists of two rows of five tiles each. These tiles are typically shuffled before they are placed.
Western-style dominoes were introduced to Britain in the late 18th century, reportedly by French prisoners of war. The game is thought to have spread to other countries, including Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and France. It also appeared in literature in the 1860s, and its popularity grew in the later half of the twentieth century.
Unlike European dominoes, Chinese dominoes don’t require you to match your tiles. They are also more accurate. You can create a variety of layouts, as well as different shapes of domino chain. If you have enough tiles, you can try making a unique course.
Some larger domino sets also feature spinners. These spinners are attached to the face of the domino, making it easier to rotate the domino in place. Spinners are generally metal, but are rounded off in order to prevent scratching the tabletop.