The game of dominoes is a tile-based family of games. The rectangular tiles are marked on each end with a certain number of spots. Players take turns trying to match up the tiles so that they can form a row of tiles. Once all of the dominoes have been played, the player who has a row of tiles of the same color wins. Often, players play two sets of dominoes at the same time.
Dominoes are played in specific ways. In addition to lining up matching tiles, they must be placed in such a way that two adjacent ends touch. Doubles are always placed cross-ways across the end of a chain. Tiles played to a double must be played perpendicular to the double, with its center touching it. As a result, domino chains can develop into a chain shape or a snake-line shape. The playing surface can also have a bearing on how the chain shapes develop.
Traditionally, domino games were played in places where playing cards was prohibited by religion. The game has become popular in many different areas, and was even used to circumvent religious restrictions that prohibited playing with cards. Today, domino games are popular among children and adults alike, and are still used to pass the time. A common variant of this classic game is known as Concentration. This variation is played with a double-six set. To win, a player must have a total pip count of twelve or more.
There are many variations of the game. In a typical game, each player is dealt a certain number of tiles at the beginning of the game. The game continues until no one player has any dominoes remaining. If no player has a double-six, the game ends with a tie and the winner is the person with the most dominoes. If the player does not have any dominoes, the other player draws from the unused tiles.
A classic domino tower game involves placing a platform of three or four dominoes on a table. Next, players take turns adding dominoes to the platform. As each domino falls, it tips the previous domino, and so on. Oftentimes, the towers tip over, creating a lot of giggling and surprise. For this reason, dominoes are a great way to introduce new ideas and stimulate creativity.
The word domino has an obscure history. Its game origin is unknown, but the game first appears in France sometime after 1750. It originally meant a cloak or cape worn by a priest. In some European variations, the domino pieces used to be made of ivory and ebony black, and the pips on both sides are called pips. In some variants, the number of pips varies from one to six, and the tiles are ranked by their total number of pips. The larger the tile, the heavier it is.
In the United States, a domino set typically consists of twenty-eight dominoes. Each domino has pips that represent the twenty-first and twenty-second results of throwing two six-sided dice. Larger sets can hold more dominoes, which makes it more fun to play with many people. For a more competitive game, you can play with up to eight players. If you are interested in learning about the history of the game, it is best to visit a museum in your area.