Originally, the word domino referred to a hooded mask. It was then used as a term for a monastic hood, but in time it became a term for a type of cape.

The game of dominoes was introduced to England in the late 1700s. French prisoners of war brought the game to England as a way of circumventing religious proscriptions against playing cards. The game spread throughout the world, especially in Austria and southern Germany. In 1889, the game was popular in England.

In most domino games, each player begins with a set of cards or dominoes. These pieces are marked with a line in the center, which is meant to guide players to place the dominos in a specified pattern. These patterns can vary, depending on the player’s preference and the limitations of the playing surface.

Before playing, each player must shuffle their dominoes carefully. Each domino set contains a certain number of tiles, which is usually 28. Each tile carries a certain number of pips. The pips are used for matching purposes. They are also used in arithmetic. The sum of the pips on a domino is called weight. There are many different types of dominoes, with each being designed to fit different purposes.

Typically, the first player draws one domino. If he does not have any dominoes, he draws from the unused tiles in the deck. He then draws his last hand. The heaviest hand is decided by drawing lots. A domino set is normally twice as long as it is wide. If a domino is not placed correctly, the player must take it back and begin again.

The first player draws a domino with the same number on both ends. The player must then match the number on one end of the domino with the number on the other end. If the player can match the numbers on the dominos, then they are said to have “stitched up” the ends. This is one of the most common variants of the game.

Players also have the option of playing a variant known as “trick-taking” domino games. This version of the game is played with a double-six set. Each player takes two tiles, but must choose one to play. If the player cannot play a tile, they must pick a “sleeping” domino and begin the game over again.

In a concentration version of the game, a double-six set is played with the total number of pips being counted as twelve. If a domino is positioned in such a way that the total number of pips on both ends of the domino chain exceeds twelve, the player wins the game.

Traditionally, European-style dominoes are made of dark hardwood such as ebony. They are also traditionally made from mother of pearl oyster shell. The face of the domino is usually protected by a spinner, which is a metal pivot that holds two domino materials together. This pivot is usually rounded to avoid scratching the tabletop.