Dominoes are small, flat, rectangular blocks used as playing pieces. They are sometimes called “bones,” “pieces,” “men,” or “cards.” The game of dominoes is a form of poker, where a player attempts to win points by placing tiles on an opponent’s board. It is often played with a double-six set (28 tiles), but larger sets are also available.
The earliest known dominoes were made of ebony blacks and ivory faces. These pieces were later referred to as “dominoes” in English and French, and the word domino itself appears to have its origin in a long hooded cloak worn by a priest over his surplice.
In a domino game, each tile is divided into two squares, called ends, with one side featuring a number of spots or pips and the other side showing no pips or blank space. These pips are usually arranged in a contrasting color, but may be arranged in other patterns or combinations. In some games, there are multiple pips on each end; the higher the pips, the better the chances of winning.
Playing a domino involves two players, each of whom chooses seven tiles to play. The first tile is placed face down on the board. The other player then attempts to match the value of that first domino by placing a tile with an end that matches the pips on that first domino’s end.
If the opposing player is able to match the value of the first domino, they will take turns playing additional dominoes. The player with the most dominoes on their board wins.
A domino game can also be played in a variety of ways with more than two players, including the shuffle-and-draw variant called five-up. This game is played with a single double-six set (28 tiles) or a more extended double-nine set (55 tiles), and the players try to win by matching pips on each domino.
Using dominoes in games is easy to learn, and the game is a great way to pass the time with friends or family. It’s also a fun activity to do with kids.
The most basic domino game requires a double-six set of 28 tiles, which are shuffled face down into a stock or boneyard. Each player then draws seven dominoes from the stock.
Another common version of dominoes is a game where each player has seven dominoes and the winner is the player with the most dominoes in their hand after drawing seven. This is the most popular variant of dominoes and is also the most commonly played, with a total of over 100 million games recorded.
There are many types of domino games, ranging from bluffing to scoring to blocking. In the most simple version, a double-six set is used and each player is tasked with drawing seven dominoes from the stock.
The game of dominoes is believed to have originated in Europe around 1750, and it is based on the Chinese game of baiji, which has a much longer history. The original Chinese set was designed with military and civilian suit distinctions, which aren’t found in European dominoes.