Dominoes are called “bones" because the earliest domino tiles were made from animal bones or ivory. In addition to "bones", dominoes are also called "tiles", "stones", "men", “tickets”, or “spinners.”. Each domino is a rectangular tile with a line dividing its face into two square ends. Each end is marked with a number of spots (also called pips) or is blank. The word “pip" commonly means a “spot” or a “speck”, and perhaps that’s why a domino’s spots are called "pips”. The backs of the dominoes in a set are indistinguishable, either blank or having some common design. A domino set is a generic gaming device, similar to playing cards or dice, in that a variety of games can be played with a set. Evidences show that tile games have been found in China as early as 1120 CE. Some historians credit Keung T’ai Kung, in the twelfth century BCE for creating them. Other historians stated that dominoes were invented by a statesman named Chu sz yam in 1120 CE. This person is said to have presented them to the Emperor Hui Tsung, and that they were circulated abroad by imperial order during the reign of Hui's son, Kao-Tsung (1127-1163 CE). Although domino tiles are clearly of Chinese inheritance, there is a debate over whether the European tile set came from China to Europe in the fourteenth century or was invented independently. Where did the word domino come from? The word “domino” is most likely to be derived from the Latin, dominus (i.e., the master of the house). The vocative, domine, became the Scottish and English domini (i.e., schoolmaster). The dative or ablative, domino, became the French and then the English domino. The word "Domino" is French for a black and white hood worn by Christian priests in winter which is probably where the name of the game derives from. Domino games are played all over the world, but they are most popular in Latin America. The game domino is very popular in Italy, France, and Britain in the 18th century. Materials needed for Domino 1. Domino Tiles • A set of 28 tiles, typically made from: ▪ Plastic ▪ Wood ▪ Bone ▪ Cardboard (for DIY or educational purposes) 2. Playing Surface • A smooth table or flat floor to arrange and play the tiles. 3. Score Sheet and Pen/Pencil • For recording scores, especially in competitive or classroom settings. 4. Timer • For timed rounds, if the game variation includes time limits. Rules of Domino • Two to Eight players play the game dominoes. 4. Playing Subsequent Tile - You can only put domino tiles to “open ends”, i.e., no other tile connected to it. - A double tile is usually played cross-ways in the layout, straddling the end of the tile that it is connected to. - All four sides of a double are open allowing dominoes to be connected in all four directions. 5. DRAWING A TILE FROM THE BONEYARD ("DRAW" GAMES) OR YOU MUST "PASS" IF YOU CANNOT MAKE A MOVE ("BLOCK" GAMES) As you take turns placing tiles with your opponent, if someone cannot make a move, you can do either two things. In block games (or if there are no tiles left in the boneyard), you must "pass" if you cannot make a move. In a draw game, you can draw a tile from the boneyard. Depending on the game, you can then either lay it (if it fits, and if the rules allow), pass (if he cannot play the drawn tile), or continue drawing until you can make a move or the boneyard is empty. 6. ENDING A GAME The game ends when you have played all your tiles, or when a game is blocked. When you play your last tile, tradition requires you to say "DOMINO!" (When this happens, the other players are said to have been dominoed.) A game is blocked when no player is able to add another tile to the layout. When playing a multi-round game, domino games are typically scored by awarding the number of pips on opposing player's tiles to the winner. Doubles may be counted as one or two (if one, 6-6 counts as 6; if two, a 6-6 counts as 12), and double-blank may either count as 0 or 14. (These rule variations must be agreed upon before the game begins!) The player who reaches the target score (100, 200, or whatever is agreed on among the players), or the player who amasses the most points in a given number of rounds wins the game. How to play Domino 1. The first player places the first tile on the table, with it usually being a double six. 2. Once beginning the drawing of tiles, they are placed on the edge to avoid the value of the tiles being seen.
Domino Game Tips
TIP #5 - ANALYZE YOUR OPPONENT’S HAND
Examine the arrangement of tiles already played and the tiles in your own hand to guess which tiles your opponent might be holding. This will help you decide which tiles to play.
TIP #6 - ALWAYS MONITOR THE BOARD COUNT
The board count refers to the total of all open ends in the layout. In games such as Fivers, Players can earn points when the board count is a multiple of five. TIP #7 - EVALUATE THE TILES IN YOUR HAND AND HOW THEY CAN CHANGE THE BOARD COUNT
Evaluate the values on each end of your tiles and how they will affect the overall board count. TIP #8 - APPLY BLOCKING STRATEGIES TOWARDS THE END OF A POINT GAME
As scoring opportunities become less frequent, strategically blocking becomes vital.
TIP #9 - CONTROL AND ADJUST THE BOARD COUNT
Increase the board count when you can play scoring tiles, and decrease when you can't. By observing what your opponent’s do or do not hold, you can adjust the board count accordingly.
