The Basics of Domino
Domino is a game in which players place domino tiles edge to edge on a table and then knock them over. Each domino has a number displayed on one of its ends. The number indicates what the tile is used for in the game. Some games involve scoring, while others have a more strategic element. The game is most commonly played with a double-six set, but there are also several variations using other sets.
Despite its small size, the domino is quite powerful. A 1983 study by a University of British Columbia physicist showed that a domino can actually knock over things about one-and-a-half times its size, as shown in this video by a University of Toronto professor who set up 13 dominoes. The first domino was so small – 5 millimeters tall and only 1 millimeter thick – that it needed to be set up with tweezers, while the 13th domino was more than three feet tall and weighed 100 pounds.
In addition to the basic rules listed on this page, there are many more rules specific to individual games of domino. These rules are usually referred to as the “house rules” of the game being played. The House Rules should be agreed upon by all the players prior to starting a game.
When a player plays a domino, the open end of that tile must match one of the open ends of the previous tile to form a line of play. The lines of play are sometimes referred to as the layout, string, or line of play. The player who makes the first play is often called the king or leader. The leader decides which direction the lines of play will go, and what rules to follow.
After all hands have been drawn, there may be some tiles left over in the stock, and these should remain face down until the end of the game. Depending on the rules of the game, these tiles can be bought (see “Purchase” below) or added to the score of the winner.
There are many different kinds of domino games, but nearly all of them fit into four categories: bidding games, blocking games, and scoring games. In most of these games, each player plays a tile onto the table positioning it so that its open end matches one of the other open ends on the existing chains. These chains are then used to create scoring opportunities for the players.
The most popular and recognizable domino games are draw and pass, domino, and double-nine. Each of these has a different strategy and requires a different set of skills to master. Other games of a similar nature include the ace of spades, double-six, and seven of clubs.