A domino is a family of tile-based games. Sometimes called gaming pieces, these tiles are rectangular in shape and marked with a spot for each number on each end. The goal of the game is to accumulate as many of these pieces as possible to win the game. There are many variations and styles of dominoes, including different sizes, colors, and motifs.
Origins
Domino is a card game with ancient roots. It was brought to England by French prisoners of war. It later spread throughout Europe and North America. In the North, the Inuit played a similar game using bone-like objects. In Europe, the game evolved into a number of variations over the centuries.
The domino was originally made of animal bone. Some were even made of ivory. But nowadays, most dominoes are made of cheap wood and common plastics.
Rules
The Rules of Domino are simple and easy to learn. The main objective of the game is to create enclosed spaces (called cells). Cells are made up of half a domino tile and each one is worth one point. Blank tiles are wild cards. They can connect to other blank tiles and give the player one point for each.
There are several variants of domino, but the basic principles are the same in each. Players are dealt seven tiles. They place them on the adjacent tile and extend their lines of play. The player who has the most points wins. If the opponent has more tiles than the winning player, he loses. The winning player’s score is equal to the pip count of the losing player’s tiles.
Variations
There are several different variations of the domino game, each with its own rules. The goal in most variations is to play matching tiles, which are usually end-to-end. Some variations permit doubles on any tile, while others allow them only on the opposite side of the playing line. The player with the highest score wins the game.
The game originated in the early 18th century in Italy, where it spread quickly. Later, it spread to southern Germany and Austria. By the mid-18th century, it had become so popular that it was widely popular in France. In 1771, the word domino was recorded in the Dictionnaire de Trevoux. The word domino originally had two meanings. In French, the word meant a crude woodcut, and in Cuba it was known as a centipede.
Sizes
There are several sizes of domino. The smaller ones are a single page, while the large ones are three pages. The small ones are colored; the larger ones are black and white. These are best for smaller groups. They can be copied onto colored card stock for larger groups. Then, they can be played against a partner.
Choosing the right size of domino depends on the size of the table and how many players you have. Some games require smaller dominoes, while others require larger ones. The size of dominoes is also affected by your manual dexterity.
Materials
There are a variety of materials that can be used to make dominoes. These days, dominoes are often made of plastic, but they used to be made from bone and ivory. You can also find them made of dark hardwoods like ebony. Foam is also commonly used in giant yard dominoes.
Other materials you can use for domino jewelry include miscellaneous paper, cigar box labels, and paint brushes. You can also add embellishments, such as glitter, sequins, and vintage-style buttons. These are inexpensive but can add a personal touch to your domino jewelry.